Chapter Four

oOo

When Ed awoke the next morning, Pinako said Winry and the girl had already gone out and that they wouldn't be home for a while ("Knowing the strange way that girl goes about," she had said, though not in a disapproving way). The old woman then retreated into the basement to take care of some automail orders, leaving the two boys by themselves.

"It's too quiet," Edward said after a while, and stood. "What do you say we get outta here for the day? Walk around Resembool, check up on some old friends..."

Al looked at him curiously.

"Brother, since when have you wanted to 'check up on' anyone?"

He didn't answer for a moment.

"I don't know. We could just...walk around. Get out of this damn house."

"I'm sure that's your only reason."

"What are you implying?"

Alphonse shrugged.

"Nothing. You go ahead. I'm alright here."

"By yourself?" Ed asked doubtfully.

"I'm not alone," Al protested. "Aunt Pinako's downstairs, and Winry will be home soon."

"What makes you think that?"

Al chuckled.

"Something tells me."

Ed stared at him curiously then departed with an offhand, "Whatever..."

oOo

Ed had only gone for a few minutes before her heard a familiar voice.

"I'll see you later, then."

Winry was coming down the path alone, and she waved when she saw him.

"Oh, hey, Ed. I was just coming to see if you wanted to do anything today."

"Like what," he replied dully.

Her cheerful expression dropped, replaced by one of irritation.

"Don't be thick, Ed," she slapped him.

"Ow! What the hell was that for!"

"Ugh! Never mind. Just forget it," and she started past him. "Go have fun by yourself, then."

"W-wait!"

She stopped.

"Well?"

He didn't answer.

"You're so weird," she laughed, shaking her head. "Colette's around here somewhere," she added, glancing at him over her shoulder. "Talk to her if you're bored. She's pretty interesting."

Ed shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I may."

Winry shook her head again in amusement and continued down the path.

Ed strained his ears for a trace of music on the wind, but heard nothing. Not really knowing what he was doing, he kept walking until he came to a pasture by a lake where he and Al had sparred for the first time with their new "bodies". Staring out over the calm water, he was hardly surprised when he felt someone come to stand beside him.

"Strange how we meet like this, isn't it?'

Ed nodded, smirking.

"Coincidence?" he suggested.

"Could be," she replied. "Maybe something more."

He looked over at her questioningly.

She smiled and shook her head slightly.

"Hello, Edward," she said, finally looking up at him. She was wearing a white top and skirt with an indigo sash around her waist, and she carried a black parasol.

"...Hello."

oOo

"Do you ever wonder if...I don't know, if...life could've been different somehow?" Colette asked. The two sat quite close beneath a tree along the lake, just talking as time passed. "Like if you could relive a moment in the past that would change the present and the future, would you do it?"

Ed stared blankly into the distance. He nodded.

"All the time."

Colette hugged her legs closer to her chest.

"Me too."

There was a pause.

"I guess you know about us – my brother and I," Edward said.

She shook her head.

"Nobody told me, but I can guess. That's not why I asked, though."

"Oh."

She turned to him suddenly.

"You are not so very unique, Ed Elric," she said steadily, locking her eyes on his. "There have been those more bold and those less so, and yours was not the world's only mistake."

"I know..." he said quietly, "and I wouldn't feel nearly as guilty if...if it hadn't been him..."

Colette nodded knowingly.

"Your brother is strong, Edward, and his faith in you is unwavering. He trusts you more than anyone to get through this."

"Yeah, but...I have no idea how..." He paused. "Have you...ever heard of something called the Philosopher's Stone?"

Colette's eyes widened but she nodded.

"We're looking for it. We think if we use it, we could get our bodies back."

"Ignoring the principal of Equivalent Exchange," she said.

"Right. You know about Alchemy?"

"Y...yeah...A little." Her eyes flitted away from his but quickly returned. "Ed," she leaned her head against his, cupping his cheek in her hand. Ed felt his face burning. "Ed, if we never meet again, can I trust that you've found what you're looking for?"

Though rather confused by this, he nodded.

"Of course," he said, his arms sliding to the small of her back, and he held her.

They said nothing for quite a while.

"If there are many more like us," Colette said, "I hope they are far less trapped in the matter than we are, you in the military, and I..."

Ed shook his head.

"Whatever you did, Colette, it can't be anything as foolish as what I did."

"But disregarding the magnamity of the action, we still pay the same price: our action in exchange for a wasted life of searching."

"Tell me what you're looking for," Ed whispered.

Colette shook her head.

"I don't know."

"If you ever find out, you'll tell me, though?"

"I suppose, if it would help."

She pulled back.

"And if you are ever in need of assistance," she paused. "I'm not sure what to offer," she admitted. "There must be some way we can be even."

Equivalent exchange, Ed thought, smiling.

"How about, if you're ever in trouble or need help, you'll wire the military – ask for Roy Mustang – and then you come to me, okay?"

She smiled, though she had looked rather surprised at the mentioning of Roy's name.

"Okay," she said.

They stood and went back to the Rockbells', each silently thinking how odd it was that too such similar people had become connected.

A/N: Yay, done for now. Well, personally, I think this chapter sucks. But hopefully the story will get better later on (next chapter or so. God knows when that'll get written...) when the action starts coming in. This is probably gonna have a sequel when and if I finish this bitch. Mehbe...

-In Mercy-

Morbid Original