Wow, I actually managed to get another chapter written within a short amount of time! What's gotten into me? Hehe...Well, I'm sure that none of you are complaining, hehehe. Heh, I knew where I was in the story, and I know where I wanted to go with it, but I wasn't sure how to get from here to there, so I finally was able to come up with this "bridge" chapter, that will help connect the two halves, hehe. So, um, yeah. In the next chapter, I'll finally be giving you some answers. At least, I think so. There aren't many chapters left to this story, I can tell you that, but I don't know just how many yet. We'll see.
Disclaimer: Don't own. PM me if you don't know what I don't own, because I've never met anyone that stupid before, and want to meet you!
Ed made his way back to the shack and found Roy sitting outside, waiting for him. "Well," said Ed, shrugging his shoulders, walking closer to Roy, "I guess that we're going to have to move on again now that they've spotted us so close to here."
"I don't think so," said Roy. Ed shot him a quizzical look, but said nothing, waiting for his explanation. "My intuition tells me we should just wait here."
"Intuition?" Ed said as he scoffed. "Why would you believe in something so unscientific?"
Roy chuckled. "You've only been alive a few days, and you're already losing touch with the spiritual realm. My intuition never lies to me, and I've found that it always works for the best when I follow it. If that means staying here where they can easily find us, then so be it."
Ed sighed and let his shoulders sag. Roy had obviously already made up his mind, and there would be no persuading him otherwise. "Fine!" Ed said with a wave of his hand, "But don't expect me to come and save your hide when you get caught and dragged into court and…"
"I understand," said Roy, putting up his hand, "You're not responsible for what I do. You never were, for that matter. Just trust me on this one. Things will work out. I know it."
Ed shot him a glare, but refused to say anything as he turned around and strutted into the shack. He wasn't going to talk to Roy right now; it would just make him too angry.
He carefully ducked his head under the crossbeams in the ceiling, since it was such a short house, and made his way over to where Al was still sleeping. He stood there and smiled for a moment, noticing how sweet Al looked when he was asleep. He looked like he had not a care in the world. Ed shrugged. He wished he could be like that, not worrying about anything. He yawned and then lay himself down beside Al. In spite of all the thoughts and questions plaguing him, his eyes soon drooped heavy, and he fell asleep.
The next thing Ed knew, Roy was shaking him awake and telling him to come outside. He didn't know why Roy was being so demanding right now, but he decided not to argue. So, he rubbed his eyes, stood up and stretched, and then stepped outside…and froze.
There were a lot of military personnel standing outside: officers this time, not merely soldiers. What were they doing here?
"So it is true," one of them said, "The FullMetal Alchemist really HAS come back to life."
Ed said nothing.
"Why don't you say something, Major Elric?" another one asked.
Still nothing.
"We're not here to hurt you, if that's what you're wondering," said a third.
No response yet.
"Listen," said the man who had last spoken, "We have orders to escort the three of you to an awards ceremony, where the three of you will be honored for your selfless deeds in protecting our land at the expense of your own safety."
Ed shot the man a questioning glance and finally managed to ask, "W-What?"
The man smiled a little bit, and said, "You heard right. You will not be punished for what you did, but rewarded. All three of you. The Brigadier General that you had previously communicated with managed to get his information all the way up to the Fuhrer, and the Fuhrer overruled all that that previous officer had set in motion. So come, please, let me escort the three of you there."
Ed was a bit shaky, and didn't know what to think, but he slowly managed to nod his head and extend his hand to the man. Had he really done it? He accomplished his mission? So soon? Part of him was rejoicing, but at the same time, another part was regretful. If he'd accomplished his mission, that would mean that he would have to go back to the spirit world. That would mean that he couldn't be with Al.
He had only been given leave to come here during the duration of the mission, no longer. How could he explain that to Al? Or to himself?
The man noticed Ed's look of deep thought and hesitation, and asked, "So, are you coming?" Ed snapped out of it suddenly, and nodded his head.
Later that day, the three found themselves sitting in a big room with a lot of influential people gathered around. Ed wasn't paying much attention to what was going on. He had much too much on his mind.
Someone came up to the microphone and started speaking some big speech about something or other that Ed wasn't picking up on. He didn't even hear when the three of them were called up to the platform; he just kind of guessed by the fact that Colonel Mustang and Al both got up at the same time, so he figured that he should too.
"For outstanding acts of bravery, selflessness, and courage, I award you each with these medals," said someone who was standing before them. Ed guessed that it was the new Fuhrer that had taken over after King Bradley was defeated. He didn't particularly care who it was though, he didn't care what happened at this ceremony. He knew that he was going to die soon and be separated from Al again. Would he suddenly be called back as soon as the medal was pinned onto him? He hoped not. How would people react…how would Al react, for that matter, to see him keel over on the spot? The medal was pinned onto his chest, but nothing happened.
"And Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist, for disregarding your own life in order to save the lives of your brother and your country, I award you the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."
Ed's eyes fluttered open. "What?...n-No!" he stammered. He didn't want them to fuss over him if he was just going to die again, but nobody caught that intonation in his words. They just thought he was being humble, so the entire auditorium broke into laughter. That was all that Ed remembered the rest of the night.
His mission had been completed. He'd saved Amestris. Nothing had happened. He'd gotten a medal. Nothing had happened. He'd even been promoted. Still, nothing had happened. When was he going to leave?
Then he remembered the stone around his neck. This stone was probably keeping him from moving on. That couldn't be a good thing. He had only been permitted to come into this realm again to save Al and Amestris. He wasn't supposed to stay any longer than that. The consequences were sure going to be severe if he didn't find a way to get back to the spirit realm soon.
Ed sighed as he sprawled out in his bed back in his and Al's old dorm room. It felt good to finally be out of the woods. "Wasn't tonight an exciting night, Brother?" said Al.
"What? Oh…I guess," replied Ed half-heartedly.
"What's the matter, Brother? You sound kind of…down."
"It's nothing," said Ed.
"Tell me what's going on," said Al, demandingly.
"Well…it's just that…" Ed began.
"It's just that what?" asked Al.
"It's just that I'm supposed to be dead now."
"What?" asked Al, confused.
"As soon as the mission was completed, I was supposed to have moved on, returned to the spirit realm."
"You mean, you were supposed to have died again?"
Ed nodded. "Yeah. But I think this stone is keeping me from dying."
"And that's a bad thing?" said Al.
"I think so," said Ed.
"But I haven't noticed any ill consequences from you not being able to die yet," said Al.
Ed suddenly grabbed his chest and clamped his eyes shut so hard that tears began running down the sides of his face. He started hyperventilating, and his grip tightened on his chest.
"Brother! What's the matter?" said Al, as he ran over to Ed and shook him. After a few minutes, Ed finally relaxed again, and the pain stopped. He heaved a sigh of relief, and then looked up into Al's concerned gaze. "What happened, Brother?"
"I don't know. I've never felt anything like that before."
"I'll get you a doctor," Al decided.
"No, wait-" but it was too late. Al was already on the phone, calling the nearest doctor that could come. Ed sighed and lay back in his bed in submission, while muttering, "I'm fine, Al," as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
Hope you liked the chapter. Leave me a review, okay? Thank you so much for all the reviews on the last chapter, including the ones from the anonymous reviewers! I really appreciate it. Death's Scythe, do you have an e-mail address or something? I usually respond to the kind of reviews you leave, but I can't respond to you! Waah! See you all soon, I hope! Hehe.
