Chapter 4: Just Painful Memories

Ed's Writing

At first, let me say you something, everything that Alphonse has told you about my height, ARE LIES!

Al: Ed!

I'm a super tall guy with 1,80 m height

Al: ED!

And thus because he is just jealous because I'm better in alchemy than him...

Al: EDWARD! (Al's fist was prepared to punish), and who've decided that you're better in alchemy than me?

Ed: Argh! Ok, ok I'll start doing my job, just don't hit me … (sigh)I'm going to be object of jokes worldwide (sigh)

UF: Hahahaha

Ed: Argh, Shaddup you Idiot!

Well, just forget what I'd written.

I'm supposed to tell you about to what happened after we tried to return our world. In two years, complete sadness invaded me, where I only survived with the help of my friend Alphonse, who rest in peace now (I think) but only sadness; and this last 4 months the light returned to my life; my brother came back and I had again a reason for life. But the feeling of Angst and desperation, that's something what I've been very familiar with in the time I've been travelling with my brother, but what I didn't want to remember.

- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! - My brother screamed, just enough to freeze my blood.

- Brother? …. AAAAHH! – Al was laying on the floor, with the most horrible expression of Fear and Pain that I've ever seen on my life. - PLEASE WAKE UP! … AAAAL! SAY SOMETHING TO ME, PLEASE! AAAAAL! – I remember to had said something like that. But then, a lot of dark hands started to approach to us and wrapped my Brother. Unpleasant memories started to come to my mind.

- YOU WON'T TAKE HIM FROM ME AGAIN…. NOT AGAIN! – My wrath was uncontrollable; I was preparing my attack, not to threat, neither to harm, but to kill. I was starting doing it when the creature made a painful scream – AARGH! THIS KID! And then it retreated, leaving my brother behind.

If I remember, Anthony had a bright white aura around him, but I didn't care. Al's state was my worst problem then. I didn't try to wake him; I just put him at my back and started running.

- Now follow me! Don't look behind – I ordered Anthony. He agreed with his head and then we started running faster than a Thunder, towards the other side.

When we finally reached the end we appeared on wide open grassland, it was already dark. I didn't notice more, Al hadn't had changed his state.

- Al! … Please, say something to me… Please, don't leave me again– I said with my eyes covered with tears – I…I wouldn't stand again…

- Ed, look! – Anthony woke me up from my nightmares – there is a village over there, we could ask for help

Then I saw it. I've to say the most wonderful thing I'd seen in a long time

- Rizenbul! A fortune between all misfortunes - I said, and started running towards my friend's house, lifting Al on my arms

When I arrived to the front door, I desperately called, until Winry Rockbell, my friend frond childhood and mechanic, opened.

- WHO IS THE AS THAT IS CALLING LIKE A MANIAC?... uh?...

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!- She shouted, after seeing us; I can swear I heard her mumbling "just like seven years before".

- COME IN QUICKLY! – She ordered – GRANMAA PLEASE COME TO HELP. WE HAVE AN ELRICSIZED PROBLEM HERE! HURRY ED, OR YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE ON WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BROTHER…. NOT THAT WAY IDIOT! DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE HOUSE? … HEY YOU KID, BRING ME SOME COLD WATER!…- Anthony agreed scared.

- HE IS BOILING WITH FEVER – Winry said – What have you been doing this time? An illness from the other side? What shall we do … WHERE IS THE COLD WATER I ASKED? – Anthony finally arrived with a recipient filled with cold water, somewhat sweated – WHY DID IT TAKE YOU SO MUCH TIME? COME ED, HELP ME HERE!

We were like this for almost an hour, until the Antipyretic and the sedative Winry, injected Al did his effect. Then she said – lets him rest alone for a while – and we come out from the room

I went downstairs, devastated and sat down on the big sofa. Anthony came behind me. I was submerged in my own problems when a giant wrench came from nowhere to land on my head. You'll think I'm crazy but I was starting to miss that.

- OUCH! WINRY! Do you think I don't have enough problems to be with your huge weapon smashing people's head?

- EDWARD ELRIC! YOU ONLY COME TO THIS HOUSE TO GIVE US PROBLEMS – she said, crying loudly – I'VE PASSED FOUR LARGE MONTHS THINKING IF I'D EVER SEE BOTH OF YOU AGAIN AND NOW YOU COME CARRYING YOUR BROTHER WITH THE MOST FRIGHTENED FACE A HUMAN HAS NEVER HAD JUST LIKE………JUST LIKE HE CARRIED YOU SEVEN YEARS BEFORE!

She started to cry even louder and I just didn't know what to say. – I'm sorry – that's the only thing I could say – I'm sorry – and I hugged her.

Maybe it was the time to be honest with her, she was asking for answers and I must give her some at last. So I started to tell her everything, everything that she didn't know about those six years. It took me 3 long hours, and it was almost twelve when I finished; but I think I satisfied her. Grandma Pinako and Anthony were also listening to me, she with analytic eyes and he with curious ones.

- well, after so many time we really know what you two were doing- Pinako said – And now you've finally achieved on returning your brother to his body, what are you going to do from now?

- I don't know… maybe try to live a normal life … my greatest desire, oh… and to investigate what's up with this boy, because he is the one responsible of bringing us here.

- Me?

- Oh, I didn't realize – Winry approached the boy and kindly asked him– Hi, what's your name?

- Uh? Oh! My name is Anthony … Young lady

- Young lady? What an old way to address a girl. Well you can feel free and call me as Winry, All right?

- Ok, Thanks … Winry.

- Oh, I've to ask you, why did it take you so much time to bring me the water I asked? I know you don't know the house, but 10 minutes is just too slow.

- Oh, I'm sorry Winry, but I didn't see a fountain or a Well near here, so I had to run to the river, so I could bring you the water

- … the river? – Winry asked almost frozen, I was almost frozen too – But the river is at a 30 minute walk from here and you do the going and turn in 10 minutes?

- Yes I know it is slow. It's because my training is not complete.

- Uuurgh…- Winry and I replied at the same time. Then I asked – but couldn't you just use the faucet that is in the bathroom?

- A faucet? What is a faucet?

That was enough to petrify me. How such a young boy could do an hour trip in 10 minutes and to not know what a faucet is? I thought it would be interesting to investigate the boy when this problem finishes.

When I recovered, I decided to go and take care of Al, Anthony followed me.

- Is something bothering you? – Winry asked me before I leave – you look bad. Don't worry about your brother, he's out of danger, it only seems that he had suffered a great commotion.

- Yes I know but ... It's because I'm almost sure that he's remembering; he is remembering everything and I don't know what would happen next…

When I entered the room, I saw my brother resting peacefully on his bed

- I Promise I'll stay with you, no problem what it happens – I said and kissed his forehead. Then I sit down on a chair near to his bed.

- You really love your brother, don't you? – Anthony suddenly asked

Somewhat blushed, I answered – Yes I do ……… why are you so happy?

- Hehe, it's because I've remember that Seith and me used to be like that, and I found some people as crazy as us.

- I don't know if it's properly to ask but, who was that Seith?

- Seith? – His face changed on an expression of happiness and sadness at the same time. – He was my best friend. I knew him since I've memory, and we've been always together, we were always protecting each other and although we were of the same age, sometimes he acted as the elder one and sometimes I acted as the elder one. We promise each other to be together forever and to accomplish our goal no matter what it takes. We both lost our parents in a great war, so we decided to train a lot to have the power to change the way world was being ruled...

...But something terribly happened that day: a group of bad guys all dressed with black gowns and with a winged sword as a symbol on their shoulders attacked our training ground. Master and the elder students were away doing advanced training so in the Academy were only the Novice and Intermediates, and two strong guardians. But they were too many, and although the two guardians were able to kill some of them. They were defeated after some tries...

...Then I don't remember much; Seith and I were trying to escape from that hell, where they were killing our partners, when one of the black dressed guys noticed out our presence, and dragged out a dagger from nowhere, and approached ourselves with the intention of killing us. We had nowhere to escape, so we decided to confront him. After some attacks, the attacker took me off guard, and he made a final blow, but Sheith interposed between us, receiving the attack, I heard the attacker laughing "so much hurry to die? No matter what it happens, every one of you sinners won't survive the night" and after that he made him two more stabs. But I took advantage of his distraction and directly attacked his heart with my own dagger, going up until his shoulder and then cut his neck, instantly killing him, then I went to take care of my friend, he was death wounded...

..."I'm sorry, I can't complete my promise" they were his last words. Then I said something similar that you said to your brother earlier, and he died on mi hands. The next thing I remember is to be in that strange forest, where I met you.

That was surely one of the saddest stories I've ever had heard. I was completely emoted but there was a question I had to ask him

- And do you have any idea aboutwho were the people who attacked your academy?

- No, I don't – he replied – but I'm sure they used the same type of magic you used in the forest

- I didn't used magic, I used alchemy; it's a science

- So, I suppose that the ones who attacked my academy where Alchemists.

Really nothing surprising to me. After some seconds of silence I asked – and what had you been taught in your academy?

- Uh… You'll think I'm crazy, but I really don't remember what I'd been taught there.

His eyes were honest, I didn't ask anymore.

- You can use the other bed to rest; I'll stay here watching for my brother.

- Thank you …… You know, it's very difficult to found such kind people like all of you. Thank you very much.

He kept looking at me for a while, but then he fell asleep. I couldn't resist the tiredness for much time, so I fell asleep too; falling in a lot of nightmares. How Al would be after these, I didn't know, I only knew that morning would bring all the answers.

I woke up when it was already bright. The room was empty.

-AAAL! I ran downstairs and there I met Winry

- Winry, Al is not on his bed, have you seen him?

- Yes, he is at the garden, he looked and felt better, oh! And he is waiting for you. Tell him that breakfast is almost ready and come here quickly

- Yeah, I'll do it thanks.

- Ed

- Hm?

- He's changed. Be careful

What did she try to mean? I was pretty scared then, what I'll found when I see my brother?

- I'll … I'll be, thanks.

I went outside, searching for my brother, when I finally found him; he was standing seeing the horizon, with his hands in his pants' pockets. Anthony was staring him.

- Hi! – The little boy kindly said to me

Ed: I write "little boy"…………………… ARRRGH! BUT HE WAS OF MY HEIGHT …………. BUHAAAAAAA!

Al: Please calm down brother, you are not small; you are not small, since you've been forced to drink your milk the last years

Ed: Oh Thanks Al! I really needed you to remind that to me!

UF: HAHAHAHA! I'll never get tired of this

(Al was grinning)

Ed: Argh! SHADDUP!

- Hi! – The boy kindly said to me. I replied with my hand

- Al … Are you all right?

- Hm? … Oh! … yes! ………………… I think so… - he replied without turning around – you'll have to forgive me brother, but it's very difficult to mature and have lived nearly 8 years in one single nigh.

I didn't understand what he was trying to say. But the explanation became soon

- I've just remember everything, all referring to those five years we passed together trying to recover our bodies. But I also have recovered the memories of my body. Five years being on a space without anyone or anything, just that horrible creature that lurks between the gates and absorbing too much unnecessary knowledge. So that's because I'm not very cheerful now, maybe a cup hot chocolate would relief me. But that's not what is really bothering me.

And then he finally turned around and I can see his face, he was the same Al but… his eyes, his eyes were the ones of an old person, of one who've experienced a lot of painful years. Not even a flash of innocence; he was right, he had matured a lot in a single night. Then he spoke again

- I think we owe us an excuse. We promise that we wouldn't involve other people lives in our search, but we didn't say anything about our own lives. – Then he softened his voice tone – I'm sorry brother. I didn't take care of my own existence when I saw you lying in the lake of your own blood.

- UH! – I was frozen cold, my resolution was because I didn't see Al anywhere, but his was because he saw me lying death. I felt terribly guilty, because ofblaming him abouthis resolution. - And I – I started crying loudly, a lot of sadness and desperation locked for seven yearsstarted to rise from beneath me; my will was broken like a crystal glass that falls to the floor. I ran towards him and hugged him – AND I'M SORRY ABOUT ALL THOSE SUFFERING YEARS; I'M SORRY FOR INVOLVING YOU ON THAT UNHOLY PROJECT OF REVIVING MOM; I'M SORRY YOU HAVE TO SUFFER 5 YEARS IN THAT ARMOUR AND IN THAT DIMENSION, I'M SORRY FOR HADN'T BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO ACCEPT YOUR SACRIFICE, AND I'M SORRY OF LEAVING YOU ALONE THAT TWO YEARS – I felt completely relieved after that, as if I've just washed my soul.

- You know that it's not only your fault a lot of things that you've just said – he replied to me, he was starting to cry along with me – the human transmutation was our decision, you didn't involve anyone on anything; and for that I've to pay the price. And not everyone is able to sacrifice both his arms or his legs or even his heart to try to return someone two times – don't worry "niisan" I don't blame you for anything you know that everything have been forgiven, everything have been forgiven –

I kept hugging him for a while. Anyone that looked us would think that Al was the big brother. But I don't have any regrets. It was the first time I felt so relieved in seven years.

- And what shall we do now that everything is over? – I said after I recovered from my emotionally rupture, with a happiness I really was missing.

- No, not everything is over – he said – I haven't completed my promise yet

He surely was talking about the fact I still used my Automail limbs. I was ready to protest when he made me shut up – Shhhhhh! Granny Pinako and Winry are waiting and the breakfast must be ready. Let's hurry; you don't want a proof of Winry's mighty on your head again, do you? Me not, remember that I can feel now. Anthony, please follow us.

And we went towards Pinako's house just like eight years before, but with a new friend at our side.

A/N: This is really my favourite Chapter among the four I've already written. I hope you also enyojed I. Please Review

The nexttwo will be the happiest of this part of the series. Chapter 5:Planning a new life.