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Chapter 2

Edward skipped breakfast that morning. He sat on his bed staring at his empty suitcase. In less than four hours, he was due at the train station. This was his shot to make something of himself...to be more than just some cripple living in an orphanage. But how could he just walk away? This was the only home he had known since his mother had died. The one time he had tried to leave, things had ended tragically.

Six years ago, Edward and Al had gotten this crazy idea to go home. They wanted to live there on their own. By their reasoning, they could survive by growing vegetables and hunting in the nearby forest. Things had gone well for about a week. Ed managed to catch enough rabbit and fish for them to get by, and Al had planted a small garden. It felt good to be home. The two had sworn that no matter what they would stay together. Ed had really thought things would be better for them there.

He was in the forest when it happened. It was close to dusk when Ed set out to check the traps one last time. Al had told him that he would start the kerosene lamp, and get the oven going for dinner. Neither of them though anything of it. They'd done this a thousand times before. Ed was nearly home when a blood chilling scream filled the air. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him crying out his brother's name. The sight that greeted him that night would never leave him. Alphonse was completely engulfed in flames and the fire had spread up the curtains and the walls. Ed grabbed one of the blankets from their bedrolls and tried to snuff out the fire, but it was no use. Finally Al stopped moving and screaming, but Ed couldn't leave him. He wouldn't abandon his brother even as the blaze grew. He tried to lift Al's body to carry him out. Suddenly the beams above began to crack. The last thing he remembered about that night was watching a wall of red fall before him.

Ed wiped at his eyes. Crying now wouldn't bring Al back. It wouldn't give him his limbs. It certainly wouldn't make the guilt he felt go away. The only thing left to do was go forward.

A light knock on the door caught his attention. "So you're really leaving?" Winry asked softly.

Ed nodded.

The blonde girl looked like she was about to cry. "You're coming back though, right?"

"I don't know. I would like to try to go to the university, and maybe have a life of my own," Ed replied honestly. He knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear. Recently, Winry had been kind of different toward Ed The pretty seventeen year old still spent more time tinkering with the tractor than she did staring in the mirror, but she'd become...girlie when Ed was around. Ed wasn't thick enough to miss the signs. Maybe that was another reason he should go. He didn't want to have to tell her the truth; that he could never feel anything more for her than friendship.

"I see," Winry whispered. "So you're just going to leave us."

"It's not like that. I want to be able to help this place out. If I could send money back from Central..."

"WE DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY, ED! Can't you see that we want you here?" Tears fell freely from her big blue eyes.

Ed sighed, and reached out for her. "Winry, I need to do this, but I promise that I'll come back someday."

Winry shook her head. "You're so stubborn, Ed."

There was no use in going after her. Ed knew that Winry was going to forgive him eventually. Maybe someday, she'd even come to understand why Ed was leaving.

It didn't take long for Ed to pack his bag. He didn't own much--only his books and clothes. The last thing he packed was his picture of Al and him when they were children. He slumped down on the bed, and stared at his younger brother's smiling face.

"Well, Al, "Ed said out loud, "I'm really going this time. It's not like I want to take anything from our old man, but I need to do something. I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of nervous. I'm happy here. I'm gonna miss everyone. I wish you were coming with me. We always did want to go on an adventure."

Placing the photo carefully on top, Ed grabbed his crutch and put on his coat.

Pinako was waiting for him on the porch with her pipe in one hand. "Sit down, Ed."

Ed obeyed. "I was just going to see if Rose and Winry had room for one more in the wagon."

Pinako nodded. "You know that we'd make it by without you giving us money. We always have. Don't go to Central using us as an excuse. You're a man now, Ed, and no one should hold it against you that your finally ready to live a life of your own."

"Thank you," he said softly. His throat felt tight. "Auntie, I...I don't know what to say to you. You took me in twice...even though it meant a lot of trouble for you. I don't know what would have happened to me after the fire without you. I want to make it up to you somehow."

The old woman laughed. "There have been a lot of children in this old house over the years. I started taking in orphans after my own children were grown. I never imagined that Winry would end up here as well. Life happens, Ed. All we can do is all we can do. You've helped out more than you know over the years."

Ed took time to digest that bit of information. "I should tell the children goodbye."

"You should, and you had better write us."

"I promise."

The children all huddled around Ed when he came into the playground. They eyed his clothes curiously. "Why are you dressed up for church, Ed?" one boy asked.

Ed put on a smile. "No, I'm going away for a little while."

The group groaned. "But why?" another girl whined.

"Because I am going to school in the city. I'll be back as soon as I can to visit," He assured them. From the back of the girl, he heard Nina begin to cry. Ed dropped down to his knee beside her. "Don't cry, Nina."

"I don't want you to go!" Nina squealed.

"Nina, I'm sorry, but I have to go. I promise that I will visit. Who knows, maybe you can come visit me in the city," Ed suggested.

The little girl nodded, but that didn't stop her tears. "Can Alexander come too?"

"Maybe. Want to walk me to the wagon?"

Nina nodded.

Pinako, Winry and Rose were all waiting out by the wagon when Ed and Nina got there. Winry still looked angry, but the other too appeared to be happy for him. Rose took his case and tossed it in the back. "Ready to go, Ed?"

Ed nodded. He hugged Nina one more time. She cried a little more, but she still smiled when he patted her head. Winry, on the other hand, wouldn't come near Ed. She pulled herself up on the seat without a word. Ed sighed and turned to Pinako. "I'm going to miss this place."

Pinako smiled. "You'll always have a home here. Now, don't let your temper get you into too much trouble in the city."

Ed laughed. "I don't have a temper." With that, Ed slid his crutch onto the floorboard, and pulled himself up into the back of the wagon.

Nina and Pinako stood at the gate waving until he couldn't see them anymore. Ed had to will the tiny seed of homesickness away. This was really it. He was leaving his home. Anxiety gripped him, but it wasn't enough to surmount his hope. All those years, Ed had been telling himself not to want more...not to want to make something more of himself. Well, now he wouldn't have to do that anymore. Whatever rules the old man made, Ed knew he was strong enough to survive.

The town came into view, and the train station on the outside edge. Ed wasn't sure if he wanted time to speed up or stop. Ever inch through town felt surreal. He looked at the faces of the people on the street. Since the fire, these people had underestimated him. Ed had heard the whispers when they thought he couldn't hear. They all thought that it was impossible for him ever to become something. He wanted to tell them all that when he came back he would prove them wrong. Smiling, Ed kept his eyes on train station.

Colonel Mustang stood out on the platform. Even without the blue uniform, Ed could never have missed him. Mustang looked like he owned the world. His cockiness made him different from most anyone Ed had known. It alternately annoyed and entranced Ed. Mustang smiled smugly at Ed when he saw him coming up the stairs. "So you aren't a fool," he drawled.

Ed glared at him. "No, I'm not. I'm going to get into Central University, and I'm going to do well."

"You've got a lot of confidence for someone so small." Mustang was baiting him and obviously enjoying it.

Ed remembered Pinako's warning, and kept his anger to a simmer. "Stop calling me super small!"

Mustang snorted. "Hawkeye!"

A tall, blonde woman appeared from behind Mustang. Like the Colonel, she held herself up straight and tall in her uniform. "Yes, sir?"

"Take Ed's bag, and show him to his seat. I'll be with you in a moment. I have some business with Ms. Rockbell."

"Yes, sir." Hawkeye agreed. She picked up Ed's case. "Come on."

Ed didn't know what to think of the stoic woman across from him. She showed him to his seat without so much as a word and took her own seat. Looking away, Ed reminded himself that she was just another military drone. Why would anyone ever want to be a soldier? Joining up seemed like stupidity to him--then again, it wasn't like the military would draft a guy missing as many parts as Ed was.

Mustang took his sweet time coming to the train. The officer took of his coat and folded it neatly. "Your father's will also included a rather large some to be given to your caretakers. The Rockbell Orphanage will be able to take care of its expenses for sometime."

Ed's mouth dropped. "Just how much did he leave me?"

"I'm not at liberty to say. It's one of your father's rules. I will be holding the purse strings until you finish school. You will receive a monthly allowance that will be more than enough to cover your expenses," Mustang explained.

Ed bit his lip. "What else is there?"

Mustang sighed. "Only that you will be receiving tutoring by Izumi-san until she agrees that you are ready to take the entrance exam."

"That's all?" Ed snapped.

"Unless you give me reason to add rules of my own," Mustang countered.

Ed stared out the window sullenly. There was something about Mustang that got under his skin. Why couldn't his old man at least pick someone decent to control the will? Whatever the rules were, it was too late to turn back now. Ed had to keep his eyes on Central and his mind focused on his goals. He would make it through this, and nothing could stop him.