Guess who finished editing this from her phone in the subway on her way to uni so she could post early? I apologize if there are any mistakes, tell me and I'll fix them! I have a test tomorrow morning and the trip between my house and uni is the only time when I don't feel guilty for doing something other than studying, so I wanted to have this edited and posted before I got swamped again.

But here it is! The last chapter! I'm so excited you guys can finally read this, there are a lot of things going on in this one. I don't want to spoil anything tho, so I'll ramble about it in the end notes.

As always, if you think there is something I should warn specifically in this chapter let me know and I'll fix it.

Enjoy the chapter!


Ed finds out Hohenheim is immortal during loop thirty four. It's a rather mundane affair, if he's honest. A short conversation that answers a lot of his questions about the man. Besides, after living the same five years thirty four times, it's easy to accept something like accidental immortality.

Ed has a lot of struggles when it comes to Hohenheim. The man has spent so much time on his own, he doesn't know how to rely on people. He doesn't know how to communicate, which Ed figures it's where he got his own problems from. He's flippant to most issues normal people would find horrifying. He doesn't know how to stay still.

They're similar, in more ways than one. It's probably why Hohenheim pisses him off so much. It took a long time for Ed to accept that.

In the end, there's nothing left for Ed to do other than come to terms with it. Hohenheim is his father. Half of his DNA comes from him. But he is not his dad. For that, he should have stayed.

It doesn't mean the loss hurts any less.


By the time Ed sees anyone else other than his ragtag band of wanted men, it's been several months. The Promised Day is almost upon them.

Ed finds it somehow fitting that it's Granny Pinako he sees first. He and the rest of his group had been hiding in her house for the past month and a half now, knowing it was only her in the house and far from Central's influence. It's nice to see her again, to know for sure that she's alright. After Winry left for Rush Valley, Ed couldn't help but worry for her, even knowing Granny is probably one of the most capable people in all of Amestris and can very well take care of herself. She receives him and the three strangers into her home with open arms, feeds them and hides them without asking any questions.

Winry arrives at Resembool days before the Promised Day. When he sees her, he can't help but feel a flood of relief. Ed has put her under a lot of danger this past year, so it's good to know she has made it out safe this past few months this time around.

She updates him on what's been going on while she fine tunes his automail. The subtle tug at his nerves is both painful and gratifying. It's been a while since his arm has worked correctly, since he left the North with it in less than perfect working conditions. It's good to have his usual mobility back.

"So, how come Al is with Major Miles?" Ed asks while flexing his fingers. They move smoothly, as they always do after Winry takes a look at his automail.

"The folks from Briggs are going to be doing something at some training ground in the East. Al thought he might be able to help out there, so he volunteered," something at the joint training in the East? But they have everyone in Central, so why—?

Ah, right. Old Grumman must still be there. He forgets the old man is Hawkeye's grandfather, and that he and Roy played chess every two weeks while they were stationed in Eastern Command. Of course he's helping. The question is, what has the old man planned? Something crazy, Ed is sure of that. Grumman has a love for dramatics that rivals his own, and it has only grown more eccentric with age.

"I see," he says instead of any of that, because there's nothing else to tell.

"Ed, your father went to Central a little before we left," she adds while she folds her things to put them in the empty drawers. "I hear he's in some slum named Kanama, so go see him and get the full story from him," not like he needs it, after hearing it so many times, but he guesses meeting up with Hohenheim can only be good at a time like this. "The Promised Day is almost here, right?"

"Yeah," he says, thinking back on all the different Promised Days he's been a part of. "That day will decide… everything. If I do things right, I can even get Al his body back," he confesses, eyes trailing down his automail. "But it could also mean the destruction of this country. So I want to ask you…" he hesitates, knowing she'll hate this. "To take Granny and Den, and run away from his country, as far as you can, as fast as you can. Don't look back."

She turns around to look at him. Her faccions is scrunched in a deep scowl.

"What, and leave everybody else in this country to die?!" he was right. She's enreaged. "Can't you do anything to stop this?"

"I'll certainly try, but I don't want to stake your life on it. And if I have to choose between this country and my family? Don't doubt for a second I'll let all of Amestris burn to the ground to save you," he tried the martyr thing before. It didn't work out.

"Ed…" he looks away. He doesn't want to see her look of disappointment. "I know you're better than that. And I know you can stop this. So don't give up before even trying."

Ed stares at her, eyes wide. Then he scoffs.

"Sheesh," he can't help the small grin that tugs at his lips. "You make it sound so easy."

"What is this? It's not like you to get discouraged," when things have failed so many times though, just what other choice do you have? "Ed!"

"Just leave it, Winry," he says as he makes a beeline for the door. He doesn't want to fight with her, not when it could be one of the last things they say at each other before the loop restarts. "If all works out, we'll be back. Until then, stay hidden."

They leave that same night. If they want to catch up to everyone in Central without taking any trains, they have to get going now.

Everything should already be in motion, if Roy got his message and mobilized their people like they talked about. Now that he's heard about Grumman, Ed wonders who else Roy managed to get on their side. A lot of people, knowing what a sweet talker he is.

He's been away for far too long. It's always like this when he has to go into hiding, he gets disconnected from everything that's been going on during his absence. He'll have to find Roy and find out what he has planned. It was Ed's idea to have a coup, since it's been what's gotten him closest to victory in the past, but how it'll happen is up to Roy.

Ed does find Hohenheim in Kanama. The first thing he does upon seeing him is punching him straight in the face with his metal arm.

"Oh, that never gets old," he murmurs to himself with a self satisfied smirk.

"You didn't have to haul me off and slug me out of nowhere, you know?!" Hohenheim says from the ground a few feet from him, rubbing his cheek like it actually hurts and it hasn't already healed. "And with your right hand too…"

"I'm not nice. If you'd stuck around, you'd know that," Ed rolls his eyes. Hohenheim doesn't raise to the bait, not that Ed thought he would.

"You've made some more friends," he comments instead, looking at Greed, Hankel and Darius, who were behind him. Of course Greed has to be contrary and deny any mentions of friendship, the bastard. "Well, thank you for looking after my son," looking after him? Ed doesn't need anyone looking out for him! He's been taking care of himself and Al for literal centuries now!

"Not at all. And a damn sassy son he is," Greed really is asking for a punch on his own face, isn't he?

Hohenheim sits them all down and tells them what happened to Xerxes, and how Father came to be. No matter how many times Ed hears this story, it always chills him to the bone how someone - something - could use so many people like that without feeling any kind of remorse.

"You don't look surprised," Hohenheim comments. The light of the fire creates shadows in his face. "I guess I should have expected that. You and Alphonse have had some weird experiences, after all."

"You talked to Al?" Ed asks instead of answering the unasked question.

"A few months ago, just after you went missing. We met back in Liore," Ed nods. That makes sense. "I am the Philosophers' stone that you wanted. Will you use me?"

A part of Ed feels sick. Does his father really think Ed hates him so much that he would use him like that? Does he really believe Ed thinks so little of him?

Another part of him feels rage. How dare he assume Ed would use anyone's soul to get his and Al's body back? How could he even think Ed would be willing to?

The rest of him is just sad. Just how much suffering has he had to go through that he's even offering himself as fuel for a human transmutation? Just how long has he been waiting to be able to die?

(It reminds Ed of himself, some.)

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffs instead of saying any of those things, things that open paths to conversations Ed doesn't want to have. "Those are the lives of people who have nothing to do with this. There's no way I would use you when it's our own fault Al and I lost our bodies."

Hohenheim smiles, looking somewhat proud. Bastard.

"I'm glad my son would say so," Ed looks away. "Tomorrow, there will be an eclipse. He is planning to exploit it," he doesn't have to explain what or who he means. Ed has already seen it with his own eyes far too many times. "Edward, will you help me put a stop to his scheme?"

As if he has to ask.

"You know I will," he scoffs, offended. "But don't believe for a second that you can order me around. I've got my own plans for tomorrow, and they're a lot bigger than you think. It just so happens that you're a part of it," he stands up to walk away. He's done with this conversation. Talking to Hohenheim always leaves him drained, for some reason. Probably because he's the only one that remotely understands Ed's thought process, and it's tripping to have someone follow it so seamlessly.

"Good. Whatever your reasons are, you'll still fight alongside me. That's all I can ask of you."

Ed stops for a moment. Then he sighs. "Granny Pinako asked me to give Mom's last words to you," he hears Hohenheim inhale deeply. "'Sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I'm dying first'," Ed grits his teeth when he doesn't hear an answer. "There, I told you—!" he turns around. Hohenheim is crying.

Ed thinks he hates him a little for that.


In the three hundred and fifty two loops Ed has been through, he has experienced a lot of things. He has made enemies who later become friends, friends who later become enemies, and he has met a lot of people who ultimately are inconsequential to his goal.

Most of the time, he sticks close to Al. Al is the reason he's doing this, why he's fighting. If he doesn't have Al, then it's not worth it. And sometimes they fight. Sometimes, Ed does too many inexplicable things and Al gets suspicious, asks questions Ed can't answer.

But he has never tried to kill him.

Up until loop three hundred and fifty two, that is.


Ed hasn't seen Pride since two loops ago. He's known Pride had been watching, of course, and he had seen Selim, but Ed hadn't seen him in his true form, the one made of cutting shadows and fear.

He hasn't missed him.

And he has the gal to possess his little brother? He has another fucking thing coming.

"You are made of shadows, aren't you?" Ed asks, even though he already knows the answer. "And for there to be shadows, you need light," he claps his hands and slams them on the ground, focusing on the energy beneath the ground, willing it to go further and further until it reaches the energy poles, frying all the cables. Soon, everything is pitch black, and Pride disappears.

His corporeal body is most likely somewhere in the forest. If he were still in Central he wouldn't be able to reach this far. That's something they have to take care of.. But until the light comes back, Pride is nothing more than a little boy with highly regenerative skills and a bad temper, so Ed isn't too worried. Yet.

Greed sends Heinkel to deal with him, since he's the only one who can see in the dark. Ed isn't sure he'll be able to beat Pride, especially not before the lights go back up, but it's the best plan they have when no one can see anything, and Ed has other worries. His little brother isn't responding, and that could be either because he still hasn't shaken off the effects of Pride occupying his body… or because his seal is wearing off.

It's only a day before the Promised Day. Al's seal has to last until tomorrow.

Ed loathes to leave him behind, but he knows it could be a trap. Until Pride is taken care of, it's best if they don't approach Al, so he and Darius follow the sound of fighting into the forest.

And they find Gluttony. Because of course they do. They couldn't have found an apple tree, or a pond with little fishes swimming around. No, it has to be the homunculus with the nose of a hound and a penchant for human flesh.

Fucking great.

In the end, it's Ling and Lan Fan - who really has the best timing ever, how in Truth's name did she find them? - who are most useful against him. They can sense homunculi even in the dark, and both of them are basically ninjas.

It's kind of brutal, even if Ed can't see it. It's only a matter of listening to Gluttony's cries and the multiple sounds of blades cutting through bone, of fists pounding against flesh. Ed can smell the blood dripping all over the ground like a deadly trail.

A distant part of Ed feels something like pity. Gluttony is like a child, he has discovered with time. Follows orders from his siblings without questioning them much, feels chastised when he doesn't complete a task, gets frustrated when things don't immediately go his way, is easily distracted by minor things and it doesn't take much to content him. His constant hunger clouds his judgement too.

The rest of him feels nothing. Ed doesn't have any specific grudges against Gluttony, since he's not overly cruel like Envy or Pride are, and on the scale of his encounters with homunculi he hasn't done anything particularly malicious to him. But he is an enemy, and Ed has long since learned he can't afford to show mercy to enemies like him.

Ed keeps half an ear on the fight while he and Fu talk strategy. Apparently he and Lan Fan went to Central once she got her automail, looking for answers. It led them here. Fu can feel Pride and Heinkel fighting somewhere deeper in the forest, and apparently Hohenheim isn't all that far either, by the edge of the village.

"Don't worry about him," Ed tells Fu. "He on our side. We have to do something about the homunculi here."

"Don't worry about Gluttony. Let Lan Fan take care of him," Fu sounds really confident on his granddaughter, which is nice, but he also doesn't know how automail recovery is supposed to go. Ed knows a lot about pushing his own limits, but six months of recovery is crossing a line. He tells Fu exactly that. "She's got more weapons besides hand-to-hand. Do not worry about her," and when he puts it like that…

Well, she did just use a grenade.

Besides, Pride is the one he's worried about. The village will be getting the lights back up any time now, and then Pride will be able to use his shadows again. The only way to overpower him is either trapping him in complete darkness or make it all so bright he can't form any shadows.

They go to Pride. There's a small fire going when they get there, and Heinkel is about to be stabbed by shadows - not a pleasant experience - when Ed gets in between and blocks it with his automail.

"Imagine, Selim Bradley being a homunculus," Ed comments. Pride doesn't even twitch. "I mean, I've always thought you were creepy, but this is a surprise," it had been, when he had found out. Of all the people in Amestris, Selim Bradley would have never crossed his mind.

"Outward appearances are only symbolic," Pride says, as if he's not stuck looking like a child, as if it's a choice. Ha. "Isn't that right? My little alchemist?" is this fucker really getting into a battle on height with him? He's a meter tall, tops.

Pride has always been snarky. Ed guesses it's because he never gets to do anything, stuck playing family and watching from the shadows. For someone like him, so prideful, it must be excruciating to pretend to be something lesser.

Pride is vicious, but so is Ed. He's learned his lessons, he's long since stopped fighting fair, and he's had his fair share of encounters with Pride's shadows to know how to counter them. He just has to use something stronger than them, like Greed's shield. Since Ed hasn't changed his automail from when he had to swap it at Briggs, its got carbon reinforcement, which is exactly what he needs.

Pride seems to realize this too, since he goes and takes out the big guns. Namely, he possesses Al. Biggest mistake of the night by far, though to be fair, Ed already knew he would try something like that.

Fu's flashbangs come in handy. The beam of light is bright enough to make the shadows disappear, severing Pride's connection with Al.

Ed makes Darius leave with Al before Pride can possess him again. Ed keeps throwing flashbangs while they escape, making sure the shadows are kept at bay. Ed takes gleeful satisfaction in Pride's fury. Oh, how he loves to break his composure.

Seeing Pride eat Gluttony is… an experience. This has never happened before. On one hand, it's one less homunculus to worry about. On the other hand it's really disturbing seeing how easily Pride can change his tune, going from fighting alongside Gluttony for centuries to… well, eat him.

So much for family.

The fight that follows is brutal. Pride is the most formidable of the homunculus, the most vicious and the most cruel. He's also the most powerful. Ed doesn't like to admit it, but if it weren't for Hohenheim, he probably would have had a much harder time besting him.

As it is, Ed isn't pleased with the results. He dreads leaving Al alone with any homunculus, but Pride in particular has a way of making Ed feel uneasy.

It's probably why Al didn't want him to know. Tsk.

He closes the distance between him and the earthen wall to call for his brother. "Al!" he hopes Al can hear him through the thick walls. "Alphonse!"

"I'm sorry!" he hears his brother's voice, muffled by the wall between them. "And we were finally reunited, too. But I was the reason this happened in the first place. It's my job to put a stop to it," no, it's not his job to do anything, Ed should have just been better at protecting him. "Besides, I only have to put up with this for a day. I'll be fine, Brother."

Ed's hands close in fists.

"When this is all over, I'll come find you," he says instead of protesting. And if I don't, it means I'm dead, and you won't remember this anyway.

At least this way he'll be out of the fight. It's not ideal, but now Ed is sure Al won't be in harm's way if he stays out of Central until the Promised Day is over.

Fu leaves for Central. The rest of their crew, joined by Scar and Doctor Marcoh's group, stay in the forest for the night, since they're all recognizable fugitives of the state. Fu is going to scope out the city, and hopefully bring back intel on Roy's movements so Ed can work around them.

They start the trek back to the city with the first signs of light. It doesn't take them much to reach Central, that's the easy part. It's getting to Central Command without being spotted that's the issue. Ed figures Roy is having a similar issue, if he's bringing as many troops as he's done in previous loops. Ed wonders how he's worked around that.

The city is in total chaos. Civilians don't know what's going on and they are panicking, military forces are being deployed on the streets, there are guerrilla fights all over. The radio is broadcasting Mrs. Bradley's testimony on how the government has forsaken her husband and is taking advantage of his disappearance to forcefully take over, all the while putting Roy and his forces on a good light.

"Heh, you've sure made a number here, haven't you, Roy?" he murmurs to himself with a smirk. He really heard all of his previous attempts from Ed and said 'go big or go home'.

It's a bit risky, but they get to Lab 3 without being spotted. Ed guesses it's because most of the Central forces are being deployed near the eastern part of the city, where Roy and their team are breaking havoc all over. They split up in the tunnel. Ed knows which way goes to the white room, but he's never got farther than that, so he doesn't actually know if that room leads to Father's lair or not. Hohenheim and Lan Fan go one way - Ed is not sure what to think of how his father is giving Lan Fan the chance to go looking for Ling - while everyone else goes the other.

They arrive in front of those huge doors, so similar to the Gate in Truth's realm and at the same time so different. This is the place where Roy killed Lust. Ed feels a shiver go down his spine at the memory.

Ed is trying to pry the doors open, but to no avail. There is no handle to latch onto, and pushing isn't doing anything. Ed guesses the other side of the door might have a handle, though it's no like that's of much use to him. Scar asks him to stand aside so he can try with his alchemy. Before he can do it though, the doors open up. On the other side, there is an army of monsters.

From there it's pandemonium.

Ed punches, kicks, throws. It makes no difference to those things. No matter what he does, they just stand up again. Not even his alchemy can keep them down. They mindlessly call out for their families, moan in hunger, crawl closer as they say 'it hurts'.

This is the immortal army the military has created, Ed realizes with startling horror. These are the dummies filled with Philosophers' stones that Olivier Armstrong talked about in other loops. It's the first time they've been used. Ed can figure out some reasons why.

How could they create these things? How could anyone bear to do this? The amount of stones needed for an army like this one…

"Aim for the legs!" Scar calls out as he disposes of some dummies. It makes sense. Without legs, they move slower.

Ed takes a deep breath. Then he claps.

He makes a spear and uses it to cut the legs of any dummy in front of him. He spares no thought, has no mercy. It's the souls that are trapped, and he can only free them if the dummies are dead. The outer body isn't anything more than a container.

Distantly, Ed wonders what Al would think of him if he saw him doing something like this so ruthlessly, if Winry saw him. Would they be disappointed? Would they be disgusted?

He doesn't know. Ed is not sure what to make of that.

It's like they don't make a dent on them at all. For each dummy they cut up, two more follow. They are unrelenting, unstoppable.

"Ed!" he hears Darius yell out a warning. He turns around, eyes widening as he realizes he's not going to be able to stop it.

Then there's an explosion.

"Things are always rowdy wherever you are," that voice… there's no way he's made it so soon, is there? "Would it be okay if I lend you a hand, Fullmetal?"

Roy.


The Promised Day has gone many different ways, in all of Ed's attempts. There are times he doesn't even make it that far, even if those are the less likely since he's essential to Father's plans.

Ed has seen many things. He's witnessed multiple massacres, he's been a part of coup d'etats. He's been locked up beneath Central Command for months leading to the day, he's marched up right through the front doors. He's sat in the Fuhrer's office drinking tea with Wrath as he waited for the eclipse, and he's fought him to the death in a last ditch attempt to stop it all.

The only constant is the need for five sacrifices. Five people who get to live beyond Amestris' destruction, five souls used to open up Truth's domain.

Honestly, most of the time Ed wishes he wasn't one of them.


Roy burns all the dummies like it's child's play. The room burns and burns and burns and burns like a raging inferno, until everything that's left are ashes. His control is so great that he spares him, Hawkeye, Scar, Darius and Zampano.

"Roy," Ed looks over to him. Roy's arm is still outstretched, fingers pointed to snap at a moment's notice. "I'm glad you're okay. It sounded like shit was getting busy up there."

"Well, it's not like you left me much directions before you disappeared, is it, Edward," Roy lifts an eyebrow, challenging. Ed huffes. "I left Hughes with Maria Ross, Lieutenant Breda and Sargeant Fuery at the radio station. Briggs is out on the streets. They all know what to do. We've been expecting you to show up."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Kinda hard to pop up when you're a fugitive of the state, ya' know?" Ed smirks. Roy looks annoyed, like their months of no-contact are a mild inconvenience. He goes to say something, but the ceiling collapses and two figures go crashing down.

"May?!" Zampano asks, incredulous. Ah, Ed forgets they think she's back in Xing. He's seen her so many times at the Promised Day he forgets they all parted months ago. May spots Scar and immediately darts to his side. It seems someone has acquired a little duckling. Hah. If they make it, Ed's never going to let him live this down.

The other figure turns out to be Envy. Ugh, Ed hates to deal with them. They're like a cockroach, so hard to kill.

"Eh?" Envy looks around, surprised. "The Fullmetal Alchemist, the Flame Alchemist, and Scar… and those two pesky Chimeras that attacked me back at Briggs… let's see, who's going to die first?"

Roy sighs like he's put off by Envy. Ed can relate.

"We don't have time to put up with your boorish interests," he informs Envy like he is talking to a child who doesn't get his way.

"Boorish? Then let me ask you this," Envy smirks all high and mighty. "You humans love watching others' misfortune, and watching fools run around in circles, don't you? Isn't that why you're always at war with each other?"

Like he didn't start like half the conflicts in this country? Talk about hypocrisy.

"Hmm, indeed," Roy humours him. "It is delightful to watch fools get worked up into a frenzy," he says like the bastard he is. "And watching fools who are homunculi get into a frenzy is especially enjoyable."

Heh. Ed knew there are reasons why he loves this bastard.

"You go on," Roy calls out to them. "I can deal with this one," he snaps his fingers once as if to prove his point, burning Envy to let them pass.

One by one, people file out of the room until the only ones left are Hawkeye, Roy, Envy, and Ed. When Roy motions for him to go on, Ed shakes his head, jaw tightening. It's too close to the eclipse. He won't let Roy get out of his radar if he can help it.

What follows is an execution. Ed watches with morbid fascination as Roy poises his fingers again, snapping one, two, three, times. Envy screams as he burns and burns and burns, until there's nothing left of him to do so.

Once upon a time, in a loop before this one, something else took place. Once upon a time, Ed witnessed a torture scene. He saw how Roy burned Envy limb by limb, over and over again until Envy was begging for their death to be quick. He saw how Roy smiled, and said no.

That Roy had been heartbroken from his best friend's death. He had been seeking revenge ever since, and had found it in Envy. He had lost control.

This Roy doesn't.

Envy's death is quick. It's not painless, because there's no such thing as a burn that doesn't hurt, but it's merciful. And really, that's all Ed can ask of him.

Ed doesn't say anything as he closes the gap between him and Roy. The Colonel is staring at the ground where Envy once stood, a considering look on his face.

"This is the one that tried to kill Hughes, isn't it?" he asks idly. Ed nods. "I see… thank you, Edward."

Ed lifts an eyebrow, surprised. "What for?"

"If it weren't for you… I think I would have done something I would regret," and really, what can Ed say to that?

He remains silent.

After a moment, once everyone has caught their breath, they move forward. They're on a tight schedule, if they want to make it to Father before the eclipse.

That's three homunculi out, one out in the wind, and three to go.

It turns out that the others hadn't left, and were waiting for them at the end of the corridor. They all walk together until they come in front of another diversion, but this time they have May with them, so that's two people that can use their alchemy if Father incapacitates it's usage in Amestris. May goes with Darius and Zampano, and Scar sticks with Hawkeye, Roy, and Ed.

Hawkeye and Scar take the lead, letting Roy and Ed fall back.

Suddenly, Ed feels nervous. This is the first time he and Roy have been relatively alone since that day all those months ago in his office. Since that kiss they shared. Ed still remembers the feeling of Roy's lips against his own, and how relief turned into terror.

"Edward," Ed jumps a bit, startled. He looks at his commanding officer. Roy looks uncharacteristically nervous. He's looking on ahead with a neutral expression, but he's playing with the hem of his gloves, which betrays his true emotions. "Can we talk?"

Ed swallows.

"Sure. About what?" he ventures, hoping with all his heart it's got something to do with the end of the world and how to stop it, and not their complicated relationship.

Huh. Figures the impending doom of the country is preferable than talking about his tragic and complicated love life.

Roy clears his throat. "About what happened before you left."

So much for that.

"What about it?" Ed knows playing dumb is futile. He knows it is. But he can't stop thinking that, the moment he lets himself talk about it, the moment he voices out his feelings, something is going to happen again.

Ed can't lose Roy. Not now, not when they're so close.

"I thought about it. After you left," it sounds like a confession. "About why you would refuse when it's obvious we both feel the same. And I think I understand," he doesn't, there's no way he does. Roy has no way of knowing that feeling of being torn to pieces, over and over and over again. "You're scared. You've lost everything before, and you don't want to lose it again."

"Roy…" Ed tries to stop him, but Roy doesn't listen. He stops walking, letting Hawkeye and Scar go on ahead. Ed, despite knowing better, stops in front of him.

"I know we could die today. I know we could die right now, Ed," Roy brings a hand up to caress his cheek, and Ed can't help but lean into it, relishing in the warm touch. "I have decided that if I'm going to die, I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want to die without giving us a chance. And if we die…"

"That's the problem, Roy, I've seen you die! Many times!" Ed doesn't cry. He doesn't have time for tears. But they gather in his eyes anyway, blurring his sight. Even then he can still see Roy's face of utter heartbreak. "And you don't remember, Roy, but I do. I remember every single fucking time," Ed rests his head on Roy's chest. His hands close in fists as he grabs onto the man's uniform. "You've died in my arms, you've been burned alive, you've been decapitated," he's shaking. He grits his teeth to swallow back a sob. Ed hates showing this much weakness, hates leaving himself so bare to someone. But this is Roy, and Ed has never been able to think straight when Roy is concerned. "And when I wake up in that damned basement, my leg and arm are gone, Al is stuck in that armor, there's an— an abomination on the floor, but the only thing I can think of is how I fucking lost you again," Ed feels Roy's arms circling behind his back, bringing him close in a hug. Ed melts against it, allowing himself the comfort if only for a moment. "Loving you can be dangerous. Loving you can get me real fucking hurt, Roy, more than it already has," he mumbles into Roy's uniform. "I don't want to give into loving you just to see you die again."

"Ed, please," Roy Mustang doesn't beg. It's a weakness, it's beneath him.

Ed closes his eyes. A stray tear falls down his cheek.

"I'm sorry Roy. I can't," Ed tears himself away from Roy, away from the comfort and the security he brings, and forces himself to look away.

He starts walking again, faster this time, until he catches up with their two companions. Hawkeye sends him a curious look when he falls into step next to her, but doesn't comment on his moist eyes, for which Ed is grateful.

Roy joins them a few minutes later, though he doesn't say anything else. Ed lets out a small sigh of relief. Now is not the time to be distracted by feelings, not when the eclipse is so soon.

They arrive at what looks like a chamber. The man waiting for them isn't a homunculus, but that doesn't mean he's any less dangerous. He may not have super strength, or the ability to regenerate from deadly injuries, but he's cruel and ruthless, and he has many highly trained soldiers at his disposal.

This is the man that created King Bradley. A man without morals and with nothing to lose. Ed has never seen him before. Then again, this loop has been full of surprises.

"I know they're supposed to be superhuman," Ed huffs as he throws one of the two soldiers he's fighting against over his shoulder. "But come on!" the bastard lands on his feet and rushes right back to him.

It's kind of embarrassing that Hawkeye, the only one out of the four of them that can't use alchemy, is the most effective against them. Then again, it is Hawkeye, so Ed doesn't feel all that bad. That woman is probably the reason they've gotten this far, if he's being honest with himself.

She fires another bullet, killing one of the soldiers fighting him. Ed calls out a thanks as he punches another one square in the gut, sending him flying. His automail blade cuts straight through another one's neck.

The doctor keeps writing on the ground with chalk, unaffected by the fighting around him. Ed is too far away, too busy fighting for his life, to see what he's doing.

If he had, Ed he would have fought harder to stop him.

Suddenly, the doctor calls for five of his soldiers, and uses them as anchor points for a transmutation. It'll certainly kill them, but none refuse, nor do they react as their lives start to drain away to fuel the array. They are nothing less than puppets.

When the transmutation activates, Ed instinctively knows what's going to happen. It's the first time he's seen it first hand, but it's certainly not the first time he's been subjected to it.

Truth's eye opens up beneath him. He can only look up at Roy, eyes wide, before he's screaming as he's deconstructed and swallowed by it.

The last thing he hears are Roy's screams, calling out his name.


Ed has been at the Gate more times than should be advisable. He's been shown infinite knowledge time and time again, has had conversations scarring enough to never forget, has had his mind and body split in two with pain and sacrifice.

It's given him nightmares. It's also given him perspective.

The dead can't be brought back. To gain something, means to lose something. Alchemy is never the answer, and always the question. Not everyone can be saved.

That last one always hits the hardest.


Ed falls in the middle of Father's lair at the same time as Teacher, who is not far from him. Al comes tumbling down seconds later, which means he got to Central somehow and that Pride is on the lose. Ed can only guess Hohenheim is somewhere down here already.

That's four sacrifices. There's only one left, and Ed has a feeling he already knows who it is.

"One, two, three… four of you? That's one short," a humanoid form that must be Father speaks up. Hohenheim is half fused inside it, most likely trapped so he can't fight back. "Hmm… could the last one be being made now?"

Ed closes his eyes in grief. Roy. He's with the only alchemist outside of this room who could draw a human transmutation circle, and he's always been the best candidate.

"W-what is that monster?" Teacher asks with narrowed eyes. "And Hohenheim?"

His father opens his eyes. "Edward…" he coughs weakly. "And he caught Alphonse, too. Oh, as well as Ms. Izumi. You'll have to excuse my sorry appearance," of all the times to try and make jokes… this bastard really has the worst timing, Ed swears.

"What in the world…?" Ed chances a glance at Teacher. She looks ready to take action at a moment's notice. He knows it won't matter.

"That's Father. The one behind the plans to destroy Amestris," Ed informs her quietly. "He's a homunculus, the first of its kind. I've never seen him like that though," it looks like a gruesome, dark version of Truth, black and full of red eyes. "Al, you've gotta wake up. This doesn't look good," when Al doesn't answer, Ed frowns and looks back at his little brother, still immobile on the floor. "Al? Hey, Al," nothing. "Alphonse!"

The ceiling opens up once more. Roy falls out of it.

Ed is running before he's processed it. He falls next to Roy, and his metal knee makes a clang sound as it bangs against the ground.

"Roy! Are you alright?" he shakes the man, but he doesn't respond. "Roy! Oi, Roy! Wake up!" Roy grunts lowly. Ed hurries to help him sit. "Are you okay?!"

Distantly, he realizes he shouldn't address Roy like this, so casually. But it's the end of the line. If they survive this, then there's no one here that will use the information against them. And if they don't… well, it would have happened anyways.

"Edward…?" Roy clutches his head with his hands. His gloves are covered in blood that's still oozing from two twin stab wounds on each of his palms. "Where are we?"

"We're beneath Central Command, in Father's hideout," Ed chances a look at Father. Pride had arrived somewhere in between Roy falling and now, because they are both looking at them, waiting. "Roy, did they…?"

"Th-they forced me onto the circle. I was flung into a white space, before a large gateway," even if he knew this already, it still feels like his heart is being squeezed as he hears Roy describe the Gate. He sounds scared, and he can feel him shaking slightly under his hands.

"Roy, I need to know what was taken from you," Ed rushes to say, eyes roaming around his body for any sign of blood or injury, "Your arms and legs are there, so where does it hurt?"

Roy does something unimaginable. He laughs.

"I'm surprised you can tell in all this darkness, Edward," he manages a weak smile, though one of his hands is holding his face.

"What are you talking abo—" Ed stops as Roy starts to stand up.

"It's pitch black. I can't see anything," Ed rushes to stand with him. His hands are shaking. "Th-the lights… where are the lights?" Ed stops him before he stumbles across a thick cable and falls. Roy clings to him. "Ed? What's going on?"

"It's not dark, Roy," he whispers. "Your sight was taken."

Ed hears Roy's breath hitch. He circles an arm around the man, leading him until he's next to Teacher and Al, who's still unconscious. Ed helps Roy sit down, all the while holding him steadily as his breathing starts to pick up from where his head is tucked in the crook of Ed's neck.

"You can't see then? That is good," Pride comments from where he's still standing next to Father. "Your abilities are quite honestly the most problematic amongst all of the State Alchemists right now," he says as he cradles his cheek with one hand, trying to pass it off as desinterest. Ed still sees it falling apart. "Now wallow there in your grief."

"The truth is cruel," Father says, sounding all high and mighty like he's ever faced Truth before. Ed wants nothing more than to rip him to pieces. Truth isn't cruel. It doesn't know what cruelty means. Truth only takes what's equivalent of what has been asked for. "For those who tempted fate, and sought their mother's warmth by bringing the dead back to life, one lost a leg upon which he stood, as well as his only family. The other had his entire body taken away, to be replaced with one that feels no warmth," Ed's arms subconsciously tighten around Roy's body as his fists clench. He loosens it again when Roy flinches. "One who sought her child was given a body that could never again have children. And then, one who looked forward to the future of his nation had his eyesight taken from him. Now, he can no longer see his future," that's it. Ed is going to beat this motherfucker to death, and even after that.

He goes to lunge at him, but Roy's hand shots up to grab his arm.

When Ed looks back at him, his resolve crumbles. He looks so scared, so lost. He's clinging to Ed like a lifeline. Ed wants nothing more than to hold him, comfort him and tell him everything will be alright, but he doesn't know how. This is the first time Roy's sight has been taken from him. It's not something Ed can replace.

He's going to be having some words with Truth.

Gently, he disentangles Roy from himself. The man whimpers lowly, and Ed immediately shushes him gently, petting his hair with his flesh hand. He helps Roy crawl until he's in front of Teacher, who helps him sit and takes over looking after him as Ed turns to face the monsters in front of them.

"You know what, I don't buy that shit," Ed speaks up. His voice echoes through the cavern. "I'd understand if he did it on his own, like we did. Everyone has to pay the price for their actions," his hands clench again. Flashes of a steaming mass of organs and matter, of blood and pain and 'don't take him away from me, he's all I have left!' appear behind his eyes. "But to force someone who doesn't want to do human transmutation to be caught in the middle of this, and have his eyesight taken…" Ed takes a step forward. "I don't accept any truth that's so unreasonable. I refuse!"

For what seems like the millionth time, the ceiling opens up above them. This time though, it's not the result of alchemy, but of the actual ceiling collapsing. Ed gasps as he steps back, arms poised to clap instinctively the moment he sees something may fall on them.

May comes falling down, gracefully avoiding the pieces of rubble as she hops her way over to him. She looks around, her eyes falling on Al's fallen armor, and immediately rushes to his side.

"Alphonse! What's happened to you?!"

"I don't know. He won't wake up," he tells the little girl, who lets out a scared gasp. "His soul is probably in between the armor and the Gate. It's been happening to him for like a year now, but never for this long."

As if on cue, Al's eye sockets start glowing again. He gasps as if struggling for air, even though that body doesn't need it to work. Al takes in his surroundings, startling when he sees Father and Pride.

Father looks happy. Ed isn't surprised. With Al's soul back in the armor, he has all five sacrifices.

May calls dibs on Father, if I'll advised. Ed and Al take on Pride.

"Edward!" Roy calls out to him as he and Al get ready to charge. When Ed looks back, he's starting to get up with Teacher's help. "When I was caught in the transmutation, he said, 'I didn't want to have to do this, but there is no choice'."

"It must carry some sort of high risk for them," Ed deduces. It makes sense, if he thinks about it. Human transmutation takes a lot of energy, and prying open another's Gate, especially if they are unwilling… yes, it must be really taxing. Pride is probably alive only because of the stone he has inside him. "Let's give it a shot then."

He and Al clap at the same time. They seem to be able to use their alchemy, and seeing this, Pride turns around and runs, which he has never done before. Al notices the same thing, as he comments on it.

He must be really weak then, between the fighting he's done since yesterday and opening Roy's Gate. That means if they're going to kill him, it's going to be here.

From somewhere else in the room, May screams. Ed and Al turn around just in time to see May roll in the ground from Father's attack.

"Damn it!" Ed swears. "Al, go help her! I've got this little fucker," he's got some bones to pick with Pride anyways. This way, he can at least try to shield Al from his brutality.

Pride tries to stop him with his shadows, but they're weak. Ed can easily deflect them, and unlike before, getting close to him is easy.

Objectively, Ed knows Pride can't kill him. He's still needed, still useful to them. They can't afford to lose any sacrifices this close to the eclipse. But that only means it's easier for Ed to kill him.

Pride tries to stab him into keeping still, but Ed jumps in the nick of time, landing right next to him and gripping him by the shoulders. Pride looks surprised. Suits him right for underestimating him.

Ed kicks and punches. Every impact chips some skin out of Pride. Then Father catches him alongside all the other sacrifices, and Ed knows he's done for.

"We are done playing around," Father announces like a scolding parent. Ed growls. "Time to get to work, my sacrifices," the eclipse must be starting then.

Everything is a blur after that. Ed can only close his eyes in defeat as Father opens the Gate, like he's done three hundred and fifty one times already.

There's nothing Ed can do now. Plan A has failed again. Now they have to wait for Plan B and leave it up to Scar, and whether he can activate the counter array in time.


The end of the world. It sounds dramatic and unbelievable. Even at a time where alchemy is at its prime, no one could even fathom something so outrageous.

Then again, they don't know about people who don't die, and plans of centuries in the making. They have no idea that their country was created for nothing more than breeding.

Ed has tried to stop the end of the world three hundred and fifty one times. He has never succeeded.

This is attempt three hundred and fifty two.


Father looks younger. His features aren't as defined, and there aren't nearly as many age lines as before on his face. His hair is a lot longer, and his build isn't as burly, instead being more lithe. Like this, he doesn't look so much like Hohenheim. He looks like Ed.

He holds so much power like this. He's taken in the energy of approximately fifty million people. It's like fighting… well, God.

Luckily for them, Hohenheim has spent his years wandering around doing something useful. There are a lot of things Ed can reproach him about, but his plan to use the eclipse as a transmutation circle and nullify Father's array is genius. It's Ed that has never managed to get his shit together and win.

Ed uses Father's distraction to get close to Roy. He's next to Teacher, who's helping him stand.

When Roy notices his presence, he latches on immediately. "Edward?"

"Yeah, it's me. You're fine, we're fine. It's— it's going to be alright," he really hopes it's not an empty promise. "Just stay here with Teacher, okay?"

"I feel so useless," Roy grits his teeth, looking angry with himself.

"You've done more than enough. This isn't your fault," Ed reassures him as he places his hands on Roy's shoulders. "Okay? It's not. We had no way of knowing this would happen."

"You didn't know then?" Roy doesn't look like he'd blame him if he had known. Ed doesn't know what to feel about it.

"I… I knew you were a candidate. You're the obvious choice. But this has never… it's never been like this," Ed confesses, ignoring the way Teacher narrows her eyes at him, trying to piece together what they're talking about. "If I had known…"

"It's okay. You didn't know," Ed thinks he should be more scared of how relieved it makes him feel to hear Roy say those words.

A few feet next to them, Father and Hohenheim are still arguing. Ed knows it'll be any moment now that Hohenheim's array will activate, returning everyone's souls to their bodies. That's when Ed will have to strike.

As if on cue, Father screams as red light pours out of him. Ed can almost see as the souls abandon him, returning to their rightful vessels. He tightens his grip on Roy's shoulder minutely. Then he lets go.

"Ed?" Roy's brows pinch in anguish, his voice panicked.

"Just stay here. I'll be over there fighting this bastard," Ed says in a gentle voice. He has to resist the urge to hug him, knowing that if he were to do that, he wouldn't let go.

Instead, he takes a step back and looks at Tescher, asking her with his eyes to look after Roy. Her eyes are still narrowed, and there's a frown on her face as she looks back at him. Ed already knows he's going to have some explaining to do if they make it out of this. She still nods, and something unclenches in his chest. Ed sighs and turns around.

"Did it work?" he asks Hohenheim once he joins him in front of Father.

"The souls of the people of Amestris have each returned to their own bodies," Hohenheim replies in that weird way of his. "And with just the souls of the Xerxesians that he already had, I doubt he can keep what he calls God suppressed," Ed looks at Father. He's convulsing as red light keeps leaking out of him, gasping and clenching his fists.

What follows is a battle of wills and energy. Even without all the souls in Amestris to stabilize him, Father still has far more power than Hohenheim, who has spread himself thin to make his plan work and hasn't swallowed any gods recently. It takes everything he has to fight Father's sheer power, and even that only works because of May's shield, since she's the only one that can use alchemy right now.

"If this doesn't end soon, the Philosophers' stone inside Dad will run out!" Al warns them as he and Ed try to support their father.

"Aren't you done yet, Scar?!" Ed yells even if he knows there's no way Scar could hear him. "Come on, what's taking him so long?!"

Unfortunately, his yelling doesn't magically make Scar work faster. Ed doesn't know what's keeping him busy, but he better have a damn good excuse when this is over.

After a few long minutes, in which Hohenheim almost falls on his ass twice and Al has to use all his body mass to right him again, Ed finally feels it. The drum of the tectonic plates being freed again, no longer kept sealed by Philosophers' stones.

"Here it comes!" Hohenheim warns them, and Ed smirks. He claps his hands.

The thing about playing god, Ed has learned, is that you always bite more than you can chew.

It costs you dearly.

The satisfaction Ed gets from destroying Father's throne - what that means - is rewarding. Ed watches with glee as he and Pride have to evade his attacks, how slow they are in comparison to how they were before.

"You've been so self-indulgent, so arrogant," Ed snarls. "Did you really believe you could play god without consequences?" behind him, Roy gasps. "I'm gonna kick your ass so hard Truth will come out of ya'!"

Ed is unrelenting. This is when all his efforts have to pay off. The moment he's been preparing for for five long years. It's loop three hundred and fifty two, and Ed will be damned if he doesn't succeed.

He's so close. And he's got way too much to lose this time around.

Ed shoots rock after rock like cannon balls. Al sends concrete pillars right next to them. When Father counters, Hohenheim steps in to reign him in. They work like a well oiled machine, playing off their strengths with an ease they shouldn't have, but still possess.

Father still escapes. Ed clicks his tongue in annoyance at the thought of having to chase him down. The bastard just can't keep still, can he?

Oh, well. He guesses that's fine. Ed still has to deal with one more annoyance anyways.

Hohenheim follows after Father without a second thought. Al follows suit, bringing May with him. Ed watches as Teacher grabs Roy by the arm and pulls him close.

"We'll get you to a safe place once we're above ground again," she tells him.

Ed jumps as his arms are suddenly caught by shadows. Dammit.

"Sorry. I didn't expect to be so useless at such a critical time," Ed clenches his fists at his words. As if he heard his gears turning, Roy turned to him. "Edward?"

"You go on ahead," he tells them. "This one seems to want something from me," he looks at Teacher, who holds his gaze for a moment before nodding and reaffirming her hold on Roy. Then, she transmutes a stone pillar to take them to the surface.

Without them down here, Ed can focus on Pride. He doesn't have to care about collateral damage, or the integrity of the place, since it's already collapsing anyways, and the only one who could get hurt in here is Ed himself.

With Pride so weak, he needs a new container. As someone with Hohenheim's blood flowing through his veins, Ed is the perfect candidate. But Pride is already fading. His body is breaking into pieces as he stands. He is weak. Ed doesn't waste his chance.

When he's done, Pride isn't more than ashes and a form so tiny Ed would have missed it if he didn't have it on his palm. This isn't the first time he's killed Pride, though it's been by far the easiest.

"Once this is all over, I'll have you go apologize to Mrs. Bradley. Truth knows you've been a bastard to her," he tells the tiny baby before leaving him on top of his coat. "You wait right here, you hear me little fucker?" Pride doesn't seem like he's in any condition to move anywhere, so Ed figures there isn't an issue in leaving him there. It's not like he can afford to lose any time either. He's got a fake god to kill.

When Ed finally gets above ground, the fight has already started. It's Hohenheim, Al and Teacher against Father. Who just turned half of Central Command to dust. Great.

Ed is sent flying from a blast of energy and he crashes against a pile of rubble. His automail arm is basically destroyed, but he can still move it, so he'll count it as a win. As he pushes himself upwards, he notices Teacher a few feet away from him. She's battered, but alive thanks to Hohenheim, who shielded her from most of the damage.

Ed chances a look at him. He's covered in grime, and looks half a second from keeling over.

"Hohenheim!" Ed calls out to him, but his father barely opens his eyes. "Hey, shake it off! This ain't time for that, you bastard! Hey!" an arm appears behind Hohenheim, throwing him aside like a ragged doll.

"I'll start with you two," Ed has no idea what Father is talking about, but he'll take a wild guess and say he wants to kill them.

It feels like his soul is being torn apart. Ed screams as he falls to his knees, gasping as he feels how his soul clings to his body, trying to resist the pull from Father.

Distantly, he hears a single bang before the pain stops. He coughs, gasping for air desperately. This is not the first time someone has tried to make his soul into a Philosophers' stone, but that doesn't make the process any less painful.

Ed takes a deep breath and stands up, ignoring the painful spasms of his body. This is no time for wallowing. He has to get Teacher out of here.

He hooks an arm around her torso, hurriedly pulling her along as soldiers from Briggs start shooting cannons at Father. It's slightly annoying that the bastard is the one less damaged from that whole explosion, but the effort is what counts.

"Yo, Fullmetal!" a pair of soldiers join them in their frantic escape. They are holding Hohenheim between them, practically dragging him away. "You alright?"

"It's no use! That much won't even make him flinch!" he warns the soldier, who blanches.

"You're kidding me?!" oh, how Ed wishes he were. He would have killed the fucker ages ago.

They are half way out of the blast range when things get hot. Literally.

Roy snaps his fingers left and right, following Hawkeye's directions to the letter. A tiny part of Ed's brain stops panicking to marvel at his power, at how even blind he still holds incredible accuracy and range.

He doesn't hesitate to follow Hawkeye's command, which speaks loudly of their trust in each other. In a way, that makes him all the more dangerous. With only Hawkeye's directions to fall back on, Roy doesn't have a way to know how far the flames should go, so he just goes all out with each snap, creating a beautiful, deadly inferno.

Father isn't exactly harmed by any of this, but that is not their intention. Roy must have relayed every bit of information Ed told him about Father before joining the fray, because everyone is trying to make him use up his stone.

He and Teacher join them once they catch their breath. The ground has been completely leveled, and is now full of raising towers and piercing slabs of concrete in between the rain of bullets. Greed, who Ed hadn't seen for a while, appears at some point, which he still isn't sure makes things better or worse.

A sharp stab of pain jolts him. Ed watches with dawning horror as his automail arm bursts into pieces. Shitshitshitshit

"Don't give up!" he yells as he lands on the ground, ignoring the loss of his arm and the throbbing of his nerves. He jumps and goes for a kick, only to be stopped by Father's energy shield again.

This isn't working. It's just like last time, they were so close last time, but it wasn't enough and—

But Ed can't give up. Not now, not when they're so close. If he has to die for the three hundred and fifty secondth time, then he'll do it fighting.

And so he charges. He jumps time and time again, rolling on the ground when he's repelled by the shield and getting back up again. He doesn't have the right body mass for an effective punch, but he's always had mean kicks, so he goes with those. He's pretty sure the level of adrenaline coursing his body is close to unhealthy, but it numbs the pain, and it gives him the energy he needs until he finds an opening.

When Father blocks him with his arm, the fall certainly hurts more, but Ed smirks. If he can't use his stone to create the barrier, then that means he's close to breaking.

"He can't keep that kind of power under his control anymore! He's breaking!" Hohenheim yells from where he's been relegated to the sidelines. No shit, Ed could have figured that out by himself. Father is twisting painfully as the energy leaks right out of him. It's pretty gruesome to watch, so Ed is almost glad when the blast sends him flying. He is not so glad when he lands on a piece of rubble and his flesh arm gets pierced by a giant nail.

Fucking figures.

When the dust settles, Father is looking more and more like an addict, desperately searching for a soul he can use to make a stone. It's just Ed's luck that he's the closest one.

"Edward, get out of there!" yeah, because it's so easy, isn't it? Fucking Hohenheim.

"Brother! Run!" Ed tries to get his arm out of the nail, but to no avail. Every little movement only seems to make it worse, and the blood starts to flow faster. "Brother! Stop, damn it!" Ed guesses that last one is directed at Father, rather than him.

Al's armor is in tatters. He doesn't have a chest plate anymore. Ed can see the seal he put there all those years ago even from this distance. But he's alive, and that's all that matters.

He doesn't want Al to see this. He doesn't want his little brother to see him like this, defenseless and ready to die. Not Al, who still retains some of his innocence even after all the tragedy and darkness he's witnessed.

But it seems like he doesn't get a choice.

Ed braces for the inevitable. He's not sure what will happen if Father truly uses his soul and makes a stone, but his guess is, since he'll make a stop through the Gate, Truth will pull him out and restart the loop.

He'll start over. He'll…

Five knives embed themselves in the piece of rubble he's trapped in, right where his arm should be. Slowly, Ed turns to look at May, who's right next to Al. There are tears on her face. Then he looks at Al.

Everything else fades away. The world around him is still turning, but Ed can't see anything other than his little brother - the one he swore to protect, the reason he's doing this, the source of all his promises - laying on the ground, arms stretched as he prepares to clap.

"What do you think you're doing?" his voice comes out hoarse. "No… don't… Al, don't you fucking dare!" Ed's eyes are wide as Al claps and turns his palms to the seal. "Stop! Al! Alphonse!"

Al falls limp. And when Ed turns to look - slowly, if he doesn't look then it's not real, please don't let it be real, pleasepleaseplease - in place of the empty space where his automail was, there's a flesh arm. His arm.

No. This isn't— the deal…

Al's soul is gone.

Ed screams.

If someone were to ask him what happens next, Ed isn't sure he would be able to answer. He can only feel pain, and distraught, and rage. Nothing else matters, just that Al is gone, and that someone has to pay for it.

Ed claps. He claps until he's lost count how many times he's done it, hitting Father with hard cement pillars and throwing sharp metal daggers. Distantly, Ed can hear people cheering him on, but he doesn't care. This isn't a time for cheering. Al is dead.

Al has only died once before. Three hundred and fifty one loops ago.

He charges head on. He doesn't care if it's reckless, doesn't care if it's stupid. Al is gone . What is the world worth, if Al isn't there to see it? What is Ed supposed to do if Al's not here?

Punching god in the face is anticlimactic, in the grand scheme of things. For a being with such power, he's really weak once you get behind it.

"Get up, you fucker! I'm going to make you regret ever hearing the name Elric!" maybe, then he'll feel satisfied. Maybe, then the loss of his brother won't be so painful.

(Ed has always been good at lying to himself.)

He charges against Father again. He doesn't let him shield himself from his attacks, throwing various punches in quick succession. It's rather pathetic really, watching someone so powerful fall from grace so quickly.

Ed still feels like punching something when Father falls on the ground. That feeling is shoved to the back burner when he goes for Greed's stone.

It's something primal, like an animal driven by instinct. Father goes straight for the biggest form of energy, sparing no thought to anything else.

Greed sacrifices himself. Another one Ed has let down, another one he's lost.

Ed doesn't think he can bear to lose anyone else.

It takes only one more punch from him to cut off Father from his stone. From there, it's Truth's job to finally get the fucker back inside the Gate.

Three hundred and fifty two tries. Has he really done it this time? Has he finally completed his side of the deal?

A deal he can't cash in anymore?

Ed thinks he should feel happy, or victorious, or relieved, or satisfied. He feels empty.

With staggering feet, he closes the distance between himself and Al's armor, or what's left of it. Around him, everyone is celebrating. Ed guesses he can't blame them.

"You dumbass," he whispers, even though he knows Al can't hear him. "Why'd you have to do that, huh? Did you think you could just— disappear and I would be okay with that?" Ed blinks as tears start to fall. "I had it all planned out. You were going to get your body back. So why'd you have to…" he can't get out the words.

In front of him, May is sobbing. She's clutching Al's gauntlet, apologizing over and over again.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" even if her infatuation was born of childish thoughts, she had formed a bond with Al, and helping him with something like this must be awful for her.

"It's not your fault. It was Al's decision," he says quietly. "He wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

"Edward," Ed looks to the side. At some point, Roy had followed him, probably with Hawkeye's assistance. She's right behind him, looking pained as she stares at the rests of Al's armor.

"He's gone. I've finally done it, and he's gone, Roy, I can't— what am I supposed to do now?" tentatively, Roy outstretches his hands towards Ed. He lets himself be hugged, drawing comfort in Roy's familiar scent under the smell of sweat and rubble.

Ling offers him his stone. It's a testament of how much Al grew on him, or maybe how much Ed did, that he's willing to give up his bid for the throne to get Al back. But as much as he would like to, Ed can't accept it. He can't use a stone to fix his mistakes.

There has to be a way. There has to be! He just has to think it through…

"Edward," from his spot on Roy's neck, Ed sees Hohenheim approaching. "Use my life, and bring Alphonse back."

The mere thought makes him sick.

"You—" Ed reels back, leaving Roy's comfort. "There's no way I could do something like that! He and I promised we would not use human lives to fix our mistakes! And why should you put your life on the line?!"

"Because I'm his father. This isn't about need, or reason. You are dear to me. I want you to be happy," Ed's eyes widen in surprise. That's… that not… "By neglecting you, I bear some responsibility for the loss of your bodies. I've lived long enough. At least let me act like a father at the end."

Ed's eyes get teary without warning. He grits his teeth until it's painful.

"Don't be ridiculous, you rotten father!" he ignores the way Hohenheim's eyes widen at his words. "Don't ever say anything like that again! I'll lay you up!" Ed hates that he's crying, hates that he's showing weakness. Roy gently pushes him back into his arms, and he lets him, burying his head on the crook of his neck.

Think! He has to fucking think! He's the youngest State Alchemist in history! He's got countless lives worth of knowledge in his head! He's seen the truth so many times! There has to be a way to make the exchange equivalent!

What does he have that Truth would accept? What can he give up that would be enough for Al's soul?

Give up…

He won't need it after this. He'll miss it, but for Al, he'll gladly give it away.

Ed slowly disentangles himself from Roy. He's aware everyone is looking at him, though whether it is for what he's just done, or for the way he's clinging to his commanding officer, he doesn't know. He also doesn't care.

"Edward? Are you alright?" Roy asks as Ed helps him stand up and leads him to where Hawkeye is still standing behind them.

"Yeah. Just got an idea," he squeezes the man's hand.

Ed draws the circle. For a less accomplished alchemist, even remembering the array would be near impossible. For Ed it's as easy as breathing. After so many times going through the Gate, such knowledge is almost like a part of him.

It's funny, if ironic, that this will be the last time he ever uses it.

"I'll be right back!" he calls out once he's done, standing in the middle of the array. He claps one last time.

The white space welcomes him. Behind him, there's his Gate, tall and imposing as it's always been. In front of him, Truth is grinning.

"Ah, Mister Al-che-mist. You've finally done it, I see," Ed allows himself a smile.

"No thanks to you," he huffs. "I've got some bones to pick with you. What the fuck was that with Roy, huh? And that thing you did to the tricky fucker? If you've been able to this the whole time then what the fuck have I've been running around for?!" Truth, the bastard, looks amused.

"Equivalent exchange, Mister Al-che-mist. Unwilling or not, your Roy Mustang had to pay the price," it shrugs like it's no big deal. Ed methodically ignores it calling Roy his, closes his eyes and counts to ten. There's no arguing with Truth, it only gives him a headache. "And regarding the Dwarf in the Flask, I could only vanish him after you broke his connection to that stone he had," Truth waves one of its shapeless arms in a shooing motion. Ed taught it that. "Are you here to bring your brother back, then?"

Ed shakes his head. This is no time for antagonizing Truth.

"Yeah. And I know our deal was only about Al's body, but I've got something else to give in exchange for his soul," Ed hopes this works. Truth likes him, but it can't do him favors.

"Oh?" it looks entertained, like it knows nothing Ed can offer will cut it, and finds the notion funny, somehow. Bastard.

"My Gate. You can have it. I… I don't need it anymore. Not if I can't have Al."

For the first time since he's met it, Truth looks speechless. It's gratifying, in a way. To know it's not omnipotent, that after all this time Ed can still surprise it.

Then it starts laughing. That, Ed has heard it do before, mostly in a mocking manner. This one is a laugh of delight, it seems.

"Is that what it's come to?" Truth muses in between barks of laughter. "I've seen a lot of things in my time, but you still manage to surprise me," it waves a hand away, to Ed's surprise. "To be honest, you've done a lot more than I thought you'd have to do. It pays for your brother's body, as well as most of his soul. In exchange for that arm of yours, you can have your brother whole."

That… is unexpected.

Truth doesn't understand things like gifts, it doesn't know the concept 'for free'. To get something, one must always give something. That is the law of equivalent exchange, the most basic concept any alchemist is taught. Even with their history, it wouldn't give him something like this if it weren't equivalent.

Which means he can get Al back.

"You're being serious? I can have Al back?" his voice comes out breathless with wonder and hope.

"In exchange of your arm, yes you can. He's quite the optimist, your brother. He was convinced you'd come for him," Truth sounds amused, as is it's default mode. Ed has learned to detect the hint of admiration hiding beneath.

"That's great," he manages to reply, fighting the sudden lump in his throat. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I'm going to miss you. Fucker."

Truth stares at him, like it doesn't get it. It doesn't understand emotions, not the way humans do. Truth is all, and one, and everything, and nothing. It understands humans on a detatched manner, like humans do animals. Theoretically, they know how they operate, but humans have no way of knowing, exactly, how animals feel and think. Truth has the same kind of knowledge regarding humans.

"You will miss me," it rolls the words slowly out of it's mouth, as if it were tasting them. Its face doesn't sport a grin, for once. "This place has caused you so much misery, though. Why would you miss it?"

"I'm not going to miss the place," Ed snorts. Truth cocks its head to the side. "I'm going to miss you . I guess you've grown on me, what can I say?" Truth doesn't say anything, just looks at him with that featureless face. "Don't think about it too hard. Just give Al back and I can be on my way."

That seems to get it back in action.

"Ah, yes. Your brother," with a subtle nod, Ed feels as his arm starts to deconstruct, reappearing instead where Truth's figureless one was. It uses the arm to point behind itself. "The back door is over there. Your brother is waiting," Ed nods and gets on walking to the second set of doors. As he passes by Truth, it seems to doubt for a second before settling on something. "I hope I never see you again, Edward Elric."

"… Yeah, me too," Ed doesn't look back.

Going through the Gate is always unpleasant. By now Ed has long since seen all it had to show him, but the feeling of having his brain split open to pour infinite knowledge inside is always painful. Really, he's glad this is the last time he's doing it.

Ed blinks once. Then he blinks again. His eyes adjust to the change in the light as he looks around. Then he sees Al.

His body is frail, all skin and bones, but it's real. It's got a beating heart and warm flesh, and it's perfect.

Ed hugs him. It's a bit tricky with only one arm, but Al is skinny enough, so he manages. He doesn't want to let go. He's been working for this for more than a thousand years. To finally be able to hold him is surreal. He fears that if he stops touching him, Al will disappear again.

Unfortunately, duty calls. He reluctantly leaves Al with Teacher, Hohenheim, and May, who promise him they'll take care of him until he can get out of all the military bureaucracy he has to take care of now. Then, he gets to work.

They lie to the public. The country needs stability now more than anything, and realizing they were raised as cattle will only end in unrest and rebellion. It's best they don't know what really happened, at least for a good few hundred years, when it can only be a historical event.

King Bradley dies a hero. Selim Bradley is merely another tragedy of many that happened. Generals Cremin and Edison, the only two remaining Generals, get the blame for everything and are properly arrested.

Amidst all the chaos, Roy takes charge with the guise of following the Fuhrer's orders. Once things have calmed down, he'll probably have to cede control to someone else, but this will establish him well to the public, and when the time comes, he'll make Fuhrer.

Eventually, Ling, Lan Fan and May return to Xing. Al worries about May, since she couldn't bring back immortality to help her Clan, but Ed trusts Ling. He can't wait to finally see him sitting on the Emperor's throne.

Hohenheim leaves without saying goodbye. Ed doesn't know what else he expected, really. Granny Pinako has to call him to let him know he had died in front of his mother's grave.

Bastard. Couldn't even find the courage to face his sons before dying.

(If it hurts that he left without saying anything, then no one else has to know.)


Ed is used to moving forward. For the longest time, there was nothing else to do.

Three hundred and fifty two loops. Three hundred and fifty two tries to right his wrongs and save the world. Three hundred and fifty two times of moving forward because he had no choice.

Ed has always been moving. He's traveled all around the country, gone on adventure after adventure. He's never settled, always thinking of his next move, of his next plan, of his next attempt.

Now that he doesn't have to… he realizes he's not so sure he knows how to do anything else.


Roy is in the room next to Al's. Ed knows this because he's heard all the military officials coming and going, all taking orders from the man in the other room.

Ed hasn't gone to visit yet.

It's… weird. He doesn't know what to think, really. It's over, he's defeated Father, he's won. Ed doesn't have to look over his shoulder anymore, he doesn't have to fear the shadows. He doesn't remember when was the last time he truly felt safe like this. Probably in his first loop, back when his mother was still alive.

Truth, it's been a long ass time since then.

Ed distracts himself with Al. Frail, skinny, beautiful Al who's breathing right next to him. His little brother spends most of his time sleeping, catching up with all the years stuck in the Gate. When he's awake, he's eating as much as his stomach can handle.

This is why he's done all this. For Al to have his life back. For him to be able to feel the breeze against his skin again, for him to be able to breathe, and get tired and feel pain, and feel when people hug him and when they ruffle his hair.

And now that he's done it, Ed's not sure what to do with himself anymore.

After a week, while Al is sleeping, Ed finally goes to Roy's room. Hawkeye is by the door as usual, Fuery and Falman are sitting on a corner reading what seems to be a bunch of history books, and Breda is by the foot of the bed with a bunch of papers, quizzing Roy on various subjects. They've been at it for days, Ed has heard them from the other side of the wall.

They all turn their heads to the door when he comes in, without knocking as usual.

"Who is it?" Roy asks. He's looking at Ed's general direction, off by a small margin. He looks calm, but Ed knows him well enough to notice the sudden unrest.

"Just me," he answers as he goes further inside the room once Hawkeye lets him in. Roy immediately relaxes. "Sorry for not visiting earlier, it's been… busy," it's a lame excuse, when they've been only a door away, but Roy waves him off.

"Don't worry about it. How is Alphonse?"

"He's fine. It will take a while before he can get started on his physical therapy, but all his organs are working well, and nothing seems to have any lasting damage. He just needs to gain some serious weight and get his limbs in working condition," Ed's lips involuntarily form a smile at the thought. He can't wait to see his brother walk again.

"That is wonderful," Hawkeye says, and Ed quickly nods. "Is he allowed to have visitors?"

"Yeah. They had him under observation the first couple of days, but they've cleared him. It's fine as long as there are not too many people at once," she nods in understanding. Then, she makes a quick motion with her hand.

Immediately, Fuery, Falman and Breda gather their things. Ed watches in stunned silence as they salute Roy, who salutes back despite not being able to see them, and then file out of the room.

Hawkeye waits until they have left before performing her own salute, telling her commanding officer she'll be leaving for a while. Then, she turns to face him.

"Take care of him," it's the only thing she says before leaving too, closing the door behind her.

Ah. Maybe he should have expected that. He and Roy were quite obvious that day, and she had already known something was going on.

"Could you come closer? I can't see you but…" Roy trails off.

"Y-Yeah, sure," Ed hurries until he's by the side of the bed, then hesitates a moment before sitting at the edge. "Is this okay?"

"That's perfect. Thank you," Roy places his hands on his lap, looking like he's struggling not to play with them. Cute. "How are you?"

Ed's first instinct is to say he's fine. After all, he's injured, but it'll heal soon enough, and after he's had his port and arm reattached it's only a matter of time before he can go back on active duty.

But this is Roy who's asking. And Ed doesn't know how to lie to Roy.

"I don't know. It's been a week and I still catch myself searching for shadows, or speaking in code even though it's just me and Al in the room," Ed smiles halfheartedly. It feels bitter. "It's just… I've always had this purpose, and now that I don't anymore… what am I supposed to do now?"

It's been on his mind since the adrenaline finally wore off a few hours after the eclipse, and the realization that he had done it had started sinking in. No more time looping, no more fighting. And then the question. What is he supposed to do now, since that's all he knows how to do?

"I don't know Edward. I don't know what the future holds. But we can figure it out together… if you'll let me," Roy looks tentative, hesitant. He's shooting his shot one last time.

And the thing is, Ed wants to say yes. He wants it so badly. Roy is… he's not perfect, he's not flawless. But Ed doesn't need that. Roy keeps him grounded, reminds him that there's more to life than fighting.

Even if he's scared - even if he still doesn't know how to not look over his shoulder, even if he doesn't think he'll ever stop - even if he still has nightmares of explosions and blood and pain - Kimblee is dead, he's dead, he can't harm Roy anymore, he's dead - even if the world is still summed in chaos because of the Homunculi's machinations… he wants to. He wants Roy.

"Are you sure? People will talk. They always do," Ed warns him. Roy extends his arm slowly, looking for him. Ed helps him and meets him in the middle.

Roy's hand is warm, like the rest of him. His fingers are calloused, and the skin isn't soft. This is a hand that has faced hardship and seen tragedy, and has still kept going.

"Let them talk," Roy says as he squeezes his hand gently. "We saved the world, Edward. I say we deserve a chance, too," he gives Ed a small, beautiful smile.

"Alright," he whispers, hoping to mask the sudden hoarseness in his voice. "Can I— is it okay if I—?" Roy seems to understand what Ed wants instantly.

"Come here," he motions for Ed to come closer, and Ed all but launches himself into Roy's arms. They circle behind his back, holding him close.

The kiss is inevitable. It's sweet, and desperate, and everything Ed's needed. Roy tastes like citrus from the orange he was given for dessert and something so distinctively his that Es can't describe it. It's enthralling, addicting. He feels one of Roy's hands carding through his hair, the other firmly placed in the small of his back to keep him close.

They kiss for a long time, though it feels like merely a second. Ed stays on Roy's lap even after the kisses have slowed down, and their temples are touching. He takes a deep breath, taking in the smell of fire and smoke and Roy.

"I'm sorry for how I left that day. I… I got scared," Ed confesses. His voice is barely a whisper, but in the silence of the room it feels like he's shouting. "The last time the Homunculi found out about us they used you as a hostage to keep me compliant."

"They killed me," Roy fills in the blanks. His hand is still gently carding through his hair in a soothing matter.

"Kimblee did. It wasn't pretty," he tries to swallow the lump in his throat. "After that, it just hurt less if I stayed away."

Roy inhales sharply, squeezing his eyes shut in anger. Then, his face smooths out again, and he tightens his hold on Ed.

"You didn't deserve any of that. I'm so sorry you had to do it all alone," Ed smiles despite himself. He gently kisses Roy's nose.

"It's fine. It was my choice. And I had you in the end, didn't I?" Roy doesn't say anything, only pushes him further against him. Ed lets himself be moved until his cheek is resting on Roy's shoulder.

"Doctor Marcoh came to visit me," he says softly. Ed moves around some to get a better look at his face. "He came a couple of days ago with Knox… he offered to fix my sight with a Philosophers' stone."

"When are you doing it then?" Ed asks as he looks at Roy's eyes. They are dull, nothing like the heated abyss he's gotten lost into before. Ed doesn't like that look in Roy's eyes. Someone so passionate shouldn't have eyes so dead.

"I don't know if I will. I told him I'd think about it," Roy shrugs like it's not a big deal. "I told Doctor Marcoh to use it on Havoc first, because I wanted to ask you about it."

"Me? Why would I influence your decision?" Ed doesn't see how Roy can see an option that doesn't end with him getting his sight back. "Just because me and Al didn't use a stone doesn't mean you can't either. No one would blame you for using the stone."

"You wouldn't?" Roy sounds genuinely surprised. Bastard.

"Of course I wouldn't. We made a choice, and we dealt with the consequences. You were forced. Our circumstances are completely different," Ed shakes his head in exasperated amusement. For a man so smart, Roy surely can be a dumbass sometimes. "If it will help you reach the Fuhrer's seat faster, I think you should do it. Use the lives of those Ishvalans for something that will help their people."

Roy doesn't say anything, but Ed knows he's thinking his words over. Ed can't make the decision for him, but he can at least advise him, and make sure his choice isn't coming from a place of guilt.

They stay in silence for a while, simply basking in each other's presence. Ed closes his eyes and simply stays there, content. Then, Ed feels Roy move slightly, trailing his hand down his side.

"Where is your arm?" Roy asks suddenly, like he's just noticed Ed is one limb short. Ed snorts, amused.

"The port broke after my arm grew back. I have to get it installed again, but it's a taxing surgery so I'm waiting for Al to get stronger before doing it," and he's been avoiding having to tell Winry he completely destroyed both the arm and the port, to be honest. "I'll probably be out for a month or so, but then I'll be back on active duty."

"You're staying?" Roy sounds more surprised than he ought to be. "You're not… leaving?"

"The military? Nah. I'm not made for civilian life. I would miss this, the action and the adrenaline," Ed sighs with a half smile. "Besides, how am I supposed to make sure you become Fuhrer if I'm not here?"

Roy looks surprised, like he hadn't expected that answer. Oh, well. He'll learn. He's stuck with Ed now, and he sure as hell ain't letting him go. Not after he can finally have him.

As he repositions himself on top of Roy, Ed thinks that he quite likes the sound of that.


This is the end! It's done! I'm a little sad because I had a lot of fun writing this, despite all the stress from having a deadline. But I'm glad I can finally share the whole thing here.

Now, onto the chapter itself. A lot of things were resolved, obviously, but I left some things pretty open, like the fact that a *lot* of people know there's something going on with Ed, and that Roy knows. I didn't know how to fit it in the story itself, so I was thinking of maybe making a separate story to fill in those gaps? I don't know, tell me what you think about it.

And what do you think of Ed and Roy? Did you guys like the resolution I gave them? And Ed's reaction to Al's sacrifice? I tried to be realistic, in the way that, even if I didn't show it much throughout the story (since I focused more on Roy's impact in Ed's life), Al is very much still Ed's number one priority. Roy is a close second, but Ed has *never* let Al die because it's just not an option for him.

Another thing I'm very curious about is what you think of Ed's relationship with Hohenheim. I find it very funny that Ed holds a lot of grudges against the man, but he's actually pretty similar in a lot of things, and this Ed has come to realize it, even if he doesn't like it. He has also had a lot of time to come to terms with what Hohenheim did and why he did it. That doesn't mean he still doesn't dislike Hohenheim, but unlike when he was actually a teenager, this Ed knows how to recognize that, despite his dislike, he still loves his father.

Well, I think that's all I had for now. Let me know what you think of that possible side story, or if you want to tell me anything else feel free!

Stay safe! Kudos!
Pato