16 – Blue ribbon


Edward doesn't know that Alphonse has entered an art competition, Al would prefer to keep it that way until the actual results have been announced. He doesn't want all his hopes to be measured and then when he doesn't win, Al knows he won't ever win, it won't seem like such a big disappointment to his brother. When receives a letter in the mail, telling him that he was first, not overall, but of the nude figure section and that there will be a ceremony soon for him to be awarded his ribbon, Al doesn't know whether to happy or dead, he faints anyway. Later when he wakes up, Ed by his side, his eyes are drawn to the letter just near his head, maybe, Al thinks, Ed doesn't ever need to know about this. All is dispelled, when Ed reads the letter out loud, he's proud and Al isn't cruel enough to tell him that the nude... is Edward... not now anyway, not until presentation night when all the winner's art will be exhibited, after all if Ed knew, he would probably steal the painting.