When The Icicle Melts
Chapter 4: "It's Not Our Place"
The sun was beginning to dip into the horizon, its rays dissipating as the land was swallowed up by the night once again in the infinite cycle. The air was cool, causing the only one outside to wrap his brown overcoat tighter around his body as the night breeze brushed through his golden hair.
'The days are growing shorter…' He took note as the land glowed a few brilliant shades of reds and oranges. It was quiet, 'too quiet' would be what most people would say, but only those who had never travelled to this land before, and didn't know what went on at night in this now dismal place... Germany. It never used to be like this…
His amber eyes scanned the area as he trudged up the dusty road. He caught a glimpse of an elderly man scurrying down the same path on the open plains in front of him, in a hurry to reach his home before the sun set completely. The elder paused briefly to bow at him, he who returned the gesture with a quick nod. Even in times of crisis, one should still act civilized.
He picked up his own pace as he caught sight of his temporary home which was merely an abandoned house with a wine cellar that wasn't visible on the outside. Well, the house shouldn't have been abandoned, but its former residents had been taken away…
He paused and headed towards a picket fence surrounding the property and leaned up against it.
He wasn't ready to go home, not just yet. For he knew if he did, it would all start again, the same nightly ritual of trying to protect his few friends from those sick bastards…
But who was he kidding? He was only delaying the inevitable.
"Nii-san…" A quiet voice sounded from behind him. He tilted his head slightly to meet with the silver eyes of his younger brother, Alphonse Elric. "... it's almost time…" Ed nodded and led his kid brother into the house.
They entered the empty refuge and proceeded directly downstairs into the wine cellar. Al grabbed a box and stuffed some supplies in it that would last the night. When they reached the bottom of the wooden steps, Ed pushed open the heavy cellar door and walked inside.
The three occupants of the room looked up. They first noticed Noa, their Gypsy friend, sitting on one side of the cellar. She had her arms wrapped around her legs with her chin resting on her knees. Her eyes lit up when Ed looked over at her. "Ed…" She half-smiled. He smiled briefly in return before glancing over at their other two Gypsy companions on the other side of the room.
Ed and Al both choked a little, they still couldn't help it, but it was to be expected when their new friends were the alternate versions of the Ishbalan, Scar and the homunculus, Lust.
Scar raised an eyebrow at their odd behaviour, but Lust just smiled sweetly at them and offered a small wave. Very uncharacteristic compared to the Lust the Elric brothers once knew. They never did tell them their real names, much to Ed and Al's disappointment, but it was safer in these difficult times for them to remain inconspicuous. So to the brothers, they were still plain old Lust and Scar.
Ed went over to the box of supplies, pulled out some blankets, and handed one of them to Noa, who eagerly accepted it. Then walked over to the other side of the room and handed the rest of the quilts to Scar and Lust. Meanwhile, Al took out some candles and started lighting them and began pulling out the food the three of them would need until morning, when it was okay for them to go back upstairs.
None of them said anything, only because they didn't want to arouse suspicion that there were more than just the two Elric brothers living in the house. More because the other people living there were Gypsies. They couldn't even go out during the day in fear that someone would turn them in for the 'good' of the country. So they were forced to remain indoors at all times.
Al was the one to break the silence. "We should go board up the door to the cellar again, Nii-san." Ed nodded went to locate the tools in the dim light of the cellar. Scar rose as well and gathered up the plywood. They took the supplies outside of the room and Scar went back into the basement.
After a brief 'see you in the morning,' Ed and Al began once again to board up the door making it appear as a dead end. Afterwards, they headed back upstairs and into the living room. Al collapsed on the couch and began his usual fiddling with the buttons of his jacket and nervous twitching. He just couldn't get used to this, but Ed could hardly blame him, even if Al's habits were a bit annoying.
Ed rested in the chair next to the front window. They had stumbled upon this house while seeking refuge in a small village outside of Munich. He leaned on his hand and looked around the room, it was quite bare now. When they'd first arrived, they found out that it was vacant when Al went to knock on the door and it creaked open with the momentum. The former residents were definitely Jewish, the entire living room and some of the other rooms had been littered with various Jewish ornaments and antiquities.
That would explain why they were no longer here…
He gritted his teeth at the thought of what events probably transpired when those poor people had been forced out of their own home and herded into the freight trains like animals, he had seen it many times before. It made him sick. Just because of one foolish man's intense desire for power and twisted way of showing dominance, the people would follow him like a bunch of filthy, spineless cowards.
He never would understand some of the people of this world.
Ed's thoughts ventured back to his three companions hiding in the wine cellar. 'Is it really just because they're different?' Ed thought bitterly and in slight astonishment. 'The Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and the mentally and/or physically handicapped. They're all different compared to the typical Caucasian look, but what the hell is wrong with that? Everyone should be unique, that's what being human is about…'
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard vehicles pull into the town square. Al immediately jumped up off the couch and rushed over to where his brother was and sat next to him on the floor. "Just calm down, Al." Ed told him as he placed his hand gently onto his brother's head.
They were silent for a few minutes until they heard a deafening noise followed by gunshots coming from outside. Then of course came the screaming. Al covered his ears and dipped his head down, trying to block out the sound. 'How can they do this? They're all humans, how can they do this to one another? What are their reasons, what could they possibly be?' For he and his brother both knew…
Someone had been discovered.
They heard the screams of a young woman and the protests of a man that were abruptly put to an end after yet another gunshot echoed into the night.
Ed felt the vibration from his brother's trembling and began stroking his head. 'Al still has no idea just what happens to those people once they're taken away and where they go, but I'll never tell him, if I find it difficult to stomach, he definitely won't be able to handle it…'
Rightfully, he shouldn't know what happens either, but back when it first began, Officer Maes Hughes had told him everything. All of the gory details. Although Hughes did contribute to the rounding up of the Jews, he was still an honourable man who was only serving his country through the best of times and the worst, and these were most definitely the worst. Not to mention being the alternate version of one of Ed's late best friends contributed to that natural trust.
But one place that Hughes told him about always stuck in his mind… Auschwitz, the primary concentration/extermination camp.
When people heard that name they would visibly cringe. By now, most people knew what went on there. Whether the people brought there were used as test subjects, being worked to death, or sent directly to the firing squad.
Ed inhaled sharply and closed his eyes. Even if it was against their own country's laws, some of the Germans still had enough morale left in them to at least attempt to protect and hide the ones they cared about, whether it be a friend or neighbour whom they had known for a long time. But usually their efforts were in vain, and their friends were carted away to their doom. Of course, any German people who dared to disobey the laws were executed on the spot.
It was the same routine every night for months now; hide the others in the wine cellar, barricade it, and act like they were hiding nothing while a different battalion would appear each night and run an inspection in order to remove any 'undesirable waste.'
This was just the beginning of the plot of this worlds' Fuhrer who only coveted power and wanted to take over the world above all else. First he would invoke his 'final solution' which had already begun awhile ago, Ed knew what his 'reasons' were, he had read that man's book when he found it at a bookstand about a year ago.
Dietlinde Eckart had desired the same thing, but in the end, she got hers...
Suddenly a loud, but slow knock sounded at the front door three times. It was show time.
Ed rose from his chair and walked over to the door with Al on his heels. He opened it to reveal five soldiers, each with the Swastika, the symbol of the Nazi Regime standing out proudly on the shoulder of their coats. Among them in the background, Officer Hughes was idly standing by, he always made sure he was part of the team that came to Ed's house. After all, they were good friends and Hughes knew perfectly well that Ed was hiding his Gypsy friends in the basement and he didn't want them to get caught as well.
"(Step aside)." Ordered the soldier closest to the front in German. To the brothers, it might as well have been in gibberish and they would have had the same level of comprehension. Neither of them, not even Ed, had bothered to learn the language. Even though Scar, Lust, and Noa were predominantly German, they could still speak English as a second language.
Ed glowered at him with frigid hatred, making the soldier shift uncomfortably. "Look, do we sound German to you? And besides…" He turned his back to the baffled soldier. "What if I don't feel like it?" He challenged.
Hughes slapped his forehead in annoyance. 'Why does he have to pull this every time?' He thought to himself.
The soldier seemed dumbfounded by Ed's blatant disrespect for authority. "Listen kid, do you want to die?"
Ed clenched his fists but Al held him back. "This isn't the time, Nii-san." He whispered.
Ed sighed and stepped aside letting the men begin their 'inspection.' Yes, it certainly was the same thing every night. He grimaced as the men carelessly tore the place apart, breaking everything in their path. When Ed and the others first arrived they had packed away all of the Jewish decorations and stored them in the wine cellar, but those damn soldiers still found something to smash every time. Hughes stood next to them acting like he was standing guard, but really he was just keeping them company.
One of the soldiers ventured downstairs and kicked the boarded up door. It sounded solid, much to Ed and Al's relief, giving it the appearance of just being an unfinished basement. So he didn't pay it any mind and travelled back upstairs.
Another soldier was in the kitchen going through their cabinets. He turned to the boys with a questioning look. "This is an awful lot of food for just two people, wouldn't you say?" He questioned in a thick German accent. Half the time the Elrics couldn't even understand what they were saying.
Ed turned his glare on the blonde behind him. Al gulped and concealed himself behind his brother even more, if that was possible. 'Ah man, I totally forgot to hide the rest of that stuff.' He mentally scolded.
Luckily for them, Hughes was quick on his feet. "Um, the area is clear, sir!" He stood up straight. "No signs of any… scum here!" He managed to word.
The soldier looked baffled at Hughes' shaky outburst, but nonetheless, he shrugged and ordered the rest of his men to move on to the next house. Ed inwardly grinned, either these men were unbelievably stupid, or perhaps they hated doing this as much as the rest of the people. He decided it was probably the second thought.
The night lived on in the same fashion, but it was dead silent, aside from Al's constant shuffling. 'The Nazis have probably cleared out the whole town by now.' Ed thought while smoothing the curtain aside so he could see out. 'Or perhaps some of these people have their friends hidden as well as we do.'
Finally the sound of engines murmured signalling that the soldiers were moving on to the next town.
Like clockwork, four soft knocks sounded at the door in pairs. This time, Al went to answer it, for they both knew that it was Hughes, coming back to check on them.
Said man walked in and flashed them the best cheery smile he could muster. "That was close, huh guys?" He wiped his forehead with the handkerchief he always had stashed in his pocket.
"Sure was, Officer Hughes." Al smiled brightly with his hand still resting on the doorknob. "It was my bad, I-"
"It's always your bad, Al!" Ed cut in, rising from the couch. "If you don't smarten up and take care of your responsibilities like everyone else, Scar and the others will be taken to that place too!"
Al hung his head, concealing his eyes with his bangs. "I'm sorry, Nii-san." He choked out. "I'll do better next time, I promise."
Ed let out an exasperated sigh and silently walked over to his brother and draped a hand over his shoulder. "It's alright, Al. I'm sorry too. We're just all a bit stressed right now…" He said quietly.
Hughes looked at the brothers in tandem for a moment before placing a hand on each of their shoulders and pulling them gently back over to the couch and forcing them to sit. "Look guys, I know times are tough…" He rested on the coffee table in front of them. "But we can't turn on each other, things will look up."
Ed snorted. "Yeah, and when will that be?" He asked sarcastically.
Hughes smiled softly at him. "I know, what you're thinking, Ed, but trust me, things will get better." Al's sad expression twisted into a half-smile. It wasn't surprising that it would be this world's Hughes to find a bit of joy left.
The room fell into silence for the umpteenth time that night. "Well I don't know about you guys…" It was Hughes who once again, broke the uneasy silence. "But I'm getting out of this country." Both brothers looked up at him in perfect unison and Hughes almost laughed out loud. "Gracia and I have already talked about it, and we're fleeing from here. If you think things are bad now, they're about to get a hell of a lot worse."
"But where will you go?" Al asked him worriedly. "Germany has already closed off most of its borders and is under tight security, how will you escape? The Nazis won't hesitate to shoot anyone trying to leave."
"It will definitely be risky…" Hughes started. "But we have to try… I can't take this anymore." Ed gave him a look of understanding. Even if this Hughes was a Nazi, he was still a good man and just as kind-hearted as the Hughes from his own world. He had to give him credit though, for being able to handle it for this long. "Ed, I've told you what they do to those people, but those are just words, in reality, those atrocities are unparalleled by anything I've ever seen…"
Al looked over at his brother questioningly, but Ed just shook his head slowly, suggesting that he should drop the subject. Al turned his attention back to Hughes. "But you still haven't answered my question. Where can you go?"
"I've been doing some research on that lately. I snuck into one of our bases late one night and looked through the records. There are already a few soldiers and members of the Nazi party who have already fled. These are people who already know what the leader intends to do, and don't want to be a part of it…"
He paused briefly seeing a frown now present on Ed's face, he felt uneasy so he lowered his gaze to his hands. "In terms of where, well there are still a few countries in Europe that have not closed their doors to refugees like us. Like the neutral territories in the northern sector of Europe, and Great Britain: an island across the ocean not far from here." A small grin made its way into his expression. "Gracia and I thought that Britain would be a nice place to get married and… start a family."
He looked up at the boys expecting Al to be smiling and a teasing remark from Ed, but was surprised when he saw the frightened look on Al's face, he looked like he was going to be sick. Then there was the frown on Ed's face that had now escalated into a scowl with a hint of worry accompanying the façade. "What's wrong?" He asked.
Ed shot up from his seat and gripped the collar of Hughes' uniform. "I…" He dipped his head down. How could he tell him that this is the way his twin in another reality died. Mustang had told him it was because Hughes knew too much, by prying into restricted files. He didn't want that to happen again. "Just… you need to get out of here, Hughes, or something bad will happen. I guarantee it."
The brothers knew well enough that most events that occurred in Shamballa usually happened on Earth in a similar fashion and vice versa. However, some things didn't always come to pass, but why take the chance with this Hughes?
Hughes gave him a warm smile and gently pried his grip off. "Don't worry, Ed. I will." His expression turned serious for a moment towards the Elrics. "But what about you two? You need to get your friends out of here fast. Unless you want the same things to happen to them. It's only a matter of time before they're discovered and shipped out to one of the camps." His voice low and intent.
Ed nodded. Because of what happened in his own world, he feared the most for this world's Lust and Scar. But perhaps he could change their fates in this world. By now, he had figured out that the alternate form of Ishbalins from his world were Gypsies in this one. Now similar events that happened in Shamballa like the Ishbal massacre were unfolding on Earth, except here it was being taken to a much more extreme level.
"Might I suggest you send them to the northern regions of Europe." Hughes suggested. "Finland would be a good choice, they are neutral and more then willing to accept coloured travellers. Afterwards, you two should come with us to Britain, as Caucasians, we won't have any trouble going there. As long as they don't discover that we're German-"
"We can't." Ed cut in abruptly. "There was another reason why I came back here. There is still the uranium bomb that got sent here, something like that doesn't belong in either worlds, and because of this whole Nazi ordeal, Al and I haven't had time to track it down."
Hughes inwardly grimaced. 'Here we go again, Ed's going off about this other world. Just like the day I first met him. There he was like a common drunk, starting fights with everyone in sight, and going on about some other world.' He looked up to see Al trying to calm his brother, whispering something about it not being the same situation. 'At least he's gotten better since his brother came. I didn't think it was possible for a kid his age to have such a drinking problem.'
"Well, anyway…" Hughes replaced his hat on his head and started towards the door. "Gracia and I are leaving tomorrow we will be laying low at the northern port until we can gain a safe passage. Perhaps we'll meet again."
Ed followed him to the door with Al in tow. "Bye Hughes-sama, tell Gracia-san I said hi!" Al gave a slight bow and a cheery smile. Hughes waved to them in return over his shoulder before Ed shut the door.
Al watched as his brother made his way towards the hall to his room. "Nii-san, what-"
"Get everyone's things packed, Al. We're leaving tomorrow at day break." Ed grabbed an empty tote bag and tossed it into Al's arms. "Also, pack any necessities that the others will need into those spare boxes." He motioned towards the empty boxes by the kitchen entrance.
"Where are we going, Nii-san?"
"To the northern port of course, Al. That's the easiest way we can get Noa and the others to neutral territories. We'll take the quiet roads up there, it's safer that way…" He picked up his empty suitcase and headed to where he and Al stashed their belongings and started throwing in anything within his reach. "After I finish here, I'm going to try to find some means of transportation to the north. Don't expect me back till morning, and tell the others."
Al held the bag close to his chest. "Whatever you say… be careful, Nii-san." Ed gave him a small smile before slipping out the front door. 'Don't do anything rash…' He silently added.
Al looked around the empty room for a moment. There wasn't much in the way of supplies, just the food he had bought in town earlier. Nobody had a change of clothes, and he was still wearing the grey coloured blazer and slacks that used to belong to his German twin, Alfons Heiderich. His hair had grown back out again so he had it tied up in a ponytail that was a bit shorter than his brother's.
He went into his and Ed's room and packed anything that his brother had missed in his haste into the tote bag, then proceeded to pack up the food into the boxes at lightening speed. It was really quite the spectacle to see him organize everything perfectly by the front door in one shaded blur.
He then grabbed a crowbar, hidden in the bottom of a closet, that they used to pry open the boards of the cellar after every night, and ran down the stairs two at a time and jammed the bar in and lifted off the wooden planks. He flung open the door and rushed in only to collide with Scar, who thought that one of the Nazis were trying to break in.
Al was knocked onto his backside while the impact didn't falter Scar's balance in the least. He was holding a lead pipe in a striking stance. Al started flailing his arms around. "Wait, it's just everyone's Al! D-don't kill me!"
Scar's eyes widened and his grip on the pipe loosened causing it to hit the floor. "Fuck kid, don't startle us like that." Al scratched the back of his head and looked up at him with a sheepish grin. Scar looked down at him with an icy expression for a moment before letting a small smirk cross his face and offered his hand to the paralysed boy, who gratefully accepted it.
"Are you alright, Al?" A soft yet seductive voice asked from behind Scar. Al titled his head to the side to see Lust step out from behind him. "You scared us half to death, we thought for sure it was those soldiers making all that ruckus upstairs." She said as she meandered her way over to the boy.
Al's grin got wider as he shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Uh… well… that was all me… sorry guys."
Scar grunted at him and walked over to reclose the cell door. Lust smiled down at Al and placed a gentle, reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That's alright, hun."
Al grinned up at her but his face twisted up in slight concern when he realized that someone was missing. His eyes scanned the area until he spotted Noa in the corner of the large room trying to conceal herself under her blanket behind a utility rack. "Hi, Noa. Are you' okay?"
Noa edged out from behind the shelves with the blanket still wrapped securely around her shoulders. "I'm… just fine, Al. Thank you." Her eyes saddened as she looked around Al. "Where's Ed?" She asked worriedly.
Al's eyes widened when it dawned on him why he came down here in the first place. "Nii-san… he left, and I was upstairs packing some things."
"What for?" Scar walked in front of Al and crossed his arms.
"Nii-san says it's time for us to leave. It could be our last chance before the worse comes." He walked over to the centre of the room and picked up the box of supplies and gathered up the blankets. "He went out to look for some form of transportation for all of us, he'll be back by morning." He headed for the door and started up the stairs. "Come with me, we'll wait for him outside."
Scar and Lust nodded and followed the boy out with Noa closely behind.
A few hours later, dawn came, and once again the entire land was engulfed by the brilliant yellows and oranges of the early morning light. Yet the countryside was still as quiet as the night. The only ones out were Al and the rest of his group, still waiting on Ed's return.
Al was completely distraught and looked about ready to have a semi-nervous breakdown. And his constant pacing and nervous fidgetting didn't go unnoticed.
"Alphonse, would you knock it off, that isn't going to bring him back any faster." Scar mumbled through clenched teeth.
Al immediately halted his actions in mid-stride. "S-sorry, I'm just worried about Nii-san. He should have been back by now." Al stated quietly as he gazed off into the horizon.
"I just hope he didn't do something stupid, like getting himself arrested."
Noa's eyebrows knitted together in distress as she sucked in a sharp breath and looked over at Scar. 'How could he even think something like that. Ed has to come back.'
Al wasn't too happy about the statement either, but what Scar said was true though. Ed always did have the tendency to get into trouble with the law. But really, could he have picked a worse time?
Lust looked at each of them feeling that the tension was layed on just a bit to thick. "I'm sure Ed is just fine, Al." The blonde lifted his gaze to meet with Lust's. "That boy is the most resilient I've ever see, he'll find a way." Al looked into her beautiful brown eyes which seemed to almost hue purple in the early morning light for a moment then smiled at her in agreement. The older nomad woman always did have a way with words.
"By the way…" Lust added as a change of topic. "Where exactly are we headed?"
"Oh right, I forgot to mention it, sorry again everyone." Al rubbed the back of his head. "Nii-san said that we're travelling up to the northernmost port. From there, we'll find some way to get you guys out of this country and up to a place named Finland, they're willing to accept outcasts and other escapees."
Noa nodded until the first part of Al's explanation sunk in. "Wait a minute, Al. What about-"
"Hey guys, down here!" A voice rang out from the base of the hill.
"It's Nii-san everyone, let's go." He motioned to the others as they made their way down the old path.
At the bottom they saw Ed waiting for them. Beside him was a vacant old-fashioned vehicle that looked similar to the one Lust and Scar used to own before they abandoned it some time ago. They could already practically feel his temper rising.
"Ed!" Both Al and Noa called in unison as they bounded down the hill to greet him while Scar and Lust kept up the steady walking pace behind them.
Ed puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. "Damn you guys are slow, hurry up!" He whined over-dramatically.
"Listen kid, I really wouldn't talk if I were you. How many times have we had to lug your sorry ass during our travels because of your endless complaining." Scar towered over Ed, trying to intimidate him.
However, the 'kid' wasn't so easily silenced. "Now look here buddy maybe I wouldn't have to bitch if you didn't work us so frickin' hard!"
Scar smirked down at him and ruffled his hair a bit too roughly causing Ed to almost lose his balance. "You seem to be the only one complaing. What's wrong? Can't spare any blood, sweat or tears? As long as you're tagging along with us, we do things my way."
Ed's eyebrow twitched. "Tagging along with you! You've all been following me since the start! And besides…" Ed shook Scar's hand off and jumped back. "Who died and made you king of the whole frickin' world, huh?!" He raised a finger and pointed it directly at Scar.
Al tried his best to stifle his laughter, but it came out in little spurts. It was always entertaining to watch Scar get Ed all riled up, at least in this world it was all in good nature. It was astonishing to Al that Ed could get along with the alter of one of his enemies so well.
This really was an upside down world.
Lust placed her fingers on her temples and massaged them in irritation. "Can we please just go already? Instead of standing out in the open like this?" She added in annoyance as she climbed onto the back of the car, soon followed by Scar after he threw everyone's luggage on board.
Al turned to his brother. "So, Nii-san, where did you find something like this?"
Ed shuffled, a bit to suspicious to Al's liking. "Well, I kind of borrowed it from our neighbours…"
Al cocked an eyebrow at him. "What neighbours?"
"The ones across town."
"Nii-san! You stole it from them didnt you?"
"Aw, Alll…" Ed whined and turned his back to him. "Just leave it alone, would ya?"
Al crossed his arms and faced the other way as well. "Fine, but I get to drive because everyone knows you'd find a way to land us in a ditch in the middle of nowhere."
The irritation level in Ed shot up to a dangerous level, he knew he shouldn't have told Al about that, but he was still able to control himself. "Yeah, okay. Whatever." He muttered. He really wasn't in the mood for his little brother's nagging today.
Ed looked on in annoyance as Al went around to the other side of the car and jumped into the driver's seat. He was just about to get in beside him when he felt a tug on his arm. He raised an eyebrow when he saw a hand grasping onto his sleeve and lifted his gaze to meet with Noa's dark chocolate eyes.
"What's wrong, Noa?" He asked in his confusion.
"Ed… it's just this… I…" Her eyes dropped to the ground, struggling to find the right words.
Ed looked back down at her hand and gently removed it. "Not now, but… later, alright with you?" He gave her a weak smile. Noa nodded and climbed into the back across from Lust and Scar while Ed jumped into the passenger seat.
The drive was quiet as everyone was exhausted from the lack of sleep as of late. Other than Al of course, who got a nudge in the ribs from his brother whenever he started to drift off at the wheel.
Ed was leaning on the palm of his hand enjoying the passing scenery in his drowsy state. The ride was slow, exactly what Ed hated, but at that particular moment, he didn't really care.
In the background, he could hear the voices of Scar and Lust quietly chatting. Scar was always a man of few words even back in his own world. It was strange to hear him talk to someone so openly. He and Al would make the occasional crack about them behind their backs, for they could both sense a feeling of mutual affection between the two, despite the present circumstances.
In the moment, he recalled the time he had asked Scar what their story was. He had told Ed that he, Lust, and his older brother used to travel together. His brother and Lust had been lovers for a few years, that was until the whole ordeal with the Nazi party rising to power took place.
One night they had heard screaming from outside of their hideout. His brother said that he would go out and try to help whoever was in danger. Lust had pleaded with him not to go, she said that she had a bad feeling about all of it, but his brother told her that it would be alright, he would be back in a few minutes and they watched as his form disappeared into the night.
They waited for him, for hours, which turned into days. But he never came back. Ed inwardly assumed that he had been captured by the Nazis too…
Finally Scar was able to pull Lust away from their temporary shelter and continue on their journey, providing support and generally helping any travellers who needed assistance. Which was how they all met. Scar had told him that he promised his brother that if anything happened to him, Scar would look out for Lust in his stead.
Al had made an off-handed comment to Ed saying that the situation with Scar's brother and Lust was very similar to the one back in Shamballa, except slightly in reverse.
It would certainly explain the hint of sorrow always present in Lust's eyes even when she was smiling. She must miss him so much. It was still so strange to see her as a kind person when the Lust they knew was one of the Elrics' sworn enemies. Then again, that suggested nothing about the person she used to be as an Ishbalan.
Even so, she must've been kind to an extent, even as a homunculus, or Gluttony wouldn't have been in such a state of anguish and devastation after her death. She also helped buy Ed some time in his battle with Sloth by delaying Wrath, which ultimately lead to her demise. Ed knew that she was probably just following some sort of orders from Dante, but she was still, in a way, on his side. Even when Al temporarily turned on him.
It would be sad when they would all have to eventually part ways…
A break in the steady pace unceremoniously yanked Ed from his semi-conscious state when the vehicle hit a goffer hole.
"Al-"
"I know, I know Nii-san. I'm sorry, I didn't see it." Al looked over at his brother with a chagrined expression.
"Eyes on the road, Al."
"I know, Nii-san." Al reached up and rubbed his forehead in mental exhaustion.
"Both hands on the wheel, Al."
"I get it, Nii-san!"
And so that brief argument were the only words spoken in an audible tone for the majority of the trip.
The sun started to set after awhile, but soon everyone's attention was grabbed when the foulest and most degrading odour struck them like a ton of steel, even the stench wasn't too surprising.
Ed glanced to the side as they passed by the border to Poland, a country that had already been overtaken by Germany, and it was also the location where the bulk of the Nazi's concentration camps were situated…
He caught site of some villagers near the border who were busy farming their lands, all the while pretending that nothing was happening. It never ceased to amaze him at how well the Germans could conceal their true emotions, but Ed could still sense their uneasiness.
After all, how can one ignore the truth when the evidence, in the form of decomposing human flesh, was seeping into their noses every time they inhaled?
He felt a chill creep up his spine at the mere thought that just a few miles away people just like them were being worked to the bone, and corpses were being thrown into mass open graves for the whole world to see. He swallowed the burning fluid that rose up in his throat, his feelings of disappointment in the human race crossed with white-hot malice escalating.
But what could he do? It wasn't his place.
The stench soon passed as they moved further north, away from the Polish border. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon as Ed began to drift off once again.
"Nii-san… Nii-san, wake up!"
He shifted out of his slouched position but didn't open his eyes. "What now, Al?"
He felt a firm hand grasp his shoulder, shaking it roughly. "Edward…" It was Scar. "… look up ahead."
Ed rubbed his shoulder and glared at Scar before turning his attention to the road. At the sight he yanked himself up into a full sitting position. The secluded road that he had told Al to take wasn't so quiet anymore. Up a few miles ahead was another vehicle, but up ahead of them was a group of people of mixed ethnics travelling up the same path.
Despite the situation, Ed grinned. 'So, my plan to stick to the side streets wasn't so original…' He mused to himself. Just then, the car in front of them started to make its' way through the crowd. 'But they aren't going to get us.' For Ed knew what was going to happen…
"Nii-san… could you… do you think you could…" Al motioned towards the wheel.
"Sure, Al." Ed got up and manoeuvred around him and slid into the driver's side.
He scanned the area quickly to see that there was no way to slip past the crowd unnoticed, so they would have to either drive through the crowd or abandon the vehicle.
The car in front of them screeched to a sudden halt. As the crowd started to try and scramble aboard, all the while crushing the other passengers to death. Al stood up on the seat to try to get a better look on what was going on when a gunshot sounded and they saw the driver in the other car hanging limply over the side, with a bullet imbedded in his skull. Ed decided on the latter and slowed the vehicle to a stop, trying not to let the brakes squeak.
The shouts of the crowd grew louder as they fought amongst each other about who would get to take the now vacant vehicle. Soon more gunshots rang out as random bystanders started dropping. Luck had definitely walked out on them when one of the men holding a gun noticed the second vehicle and fired towards Al, who was still standing up.
It narrowly missed him, just grazing his left cheek. He cried out and clutched his face, the blood dripping down his hand. "Al, Get down!" Ed yanked the back of his jacket forcing him to the floor of the car. "Follow me." He hissed as he got down below the dash as well, and lead the way until they both dragged themselves out of the car and onto the ground shielding themselves from the ricochet of bullets still raining onto the vehicle.
On the back, the others stayed as low as possible until Ed yelled at them to follow. Noa was the first to jump to the ground and follow the brothers who were already headed for a side trail that lead into a gully. Scar helped Lust get down and sprinted after the three, easily catching up.
Just before the entrance to the ravine, Noa tripped over an uprooted stump and hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of herself.
Ed halted upon hearing Noa's strangled cry, as did his brother. "Noa!" Al called out.
Coming up from behind the fallen girl was Lust and Scar. Lust, being the swiftest anyone had ever seen, grabbed hold of the scruff of Noa's dress and yanked her up without even stopping, and pulled her along by the wrist.
The Elrics waited at the entrance to the path for the others to catch up when Ed saw the glimmer of a pistol in the moonlight like a hidden blade in a requiem, aimed at the back of Scar's head.
He really didn't know why he did it. Isn't he supposed to hate this Scar as well? No, because not even the Scar he once knew murdered for the thrill of blood shed or was even remotely an evil man. Before he knew it, he leapt forward and shoved Scar out of the way just as the discharge rang out. Unfortunately for Ed, before he got back down the bullet struck him in the left shoulder. He had a fifty percent chance, but he lost as it hit his flesh arm.
"Nii-san!" Al cried out. Noa opened her mouth to call out to him but Lust tugged on her arm roughly to silence her. The last thing Ed needed was everyone mollycoddling him. Noa tried to twist out of Lust's grasp, but she was no match for the older woman's strength as Lust started pulling her down the overgrown path, concealed in the trees.
"Just… go… Al!" Ed managed between laboured breaths, trying to ignore the searing pain on his person. "Lead the others down the path and up to the top of that hill." He nodded towards an uprising in the earth, only a few miles from the entrance.
Al stood there looking at his brother's wound with intangible worry. "It's okay, Al. I'll be right behind you and the others." Ed gave him the best reassuring smile he could muster. Al didn't look convinced, but turned on his heel nonetheless and bounded after the two women.
"Foolish kid, you have your whole life in front of you, and you waste it on an aging man."
Ed looked up to see Scar's form hovering above him. He snorted. "Whatever, it's only a flesh wound. Trust me, I've had much worse." He forced himself onto his feet while gripping his shoulder tightly, trying to stop the flow of blood and started down the path with Scar following a bit behind.
They reached the summit of the hill Ed had told Al to take the others to. The screams and occasional gunshots were still reverberating from below. They paused briefly and took one final look back. From their vantage point, they had a perfect view of the morbid scene below. The shriek of a woman's voice echoed into the night followed by that of a young child's. Ed gritted his teeth. 'So, it has finally come to this…'
Another man, also wielding a pistol, ran out in front of the slow moving vehicle and shot the driver twice in the chest followed by a third for 'good measure,' then dumped the man's body on the side of the road and forced his way into the driver's side, determined to take control, until he was done in by another lunatic. And so the cycle continued as the blood bath increased in the peoples' mass turmoil.
Ed's eyes shifted back to the vehicle that was in front of the one he and the others had been occupying. It had been destroyed beyond recognition by the people, showing no evidence of its' original shape. 'They would rather completely demolish their only means of escape then try to get a grip on their humanity.' He thought in partial disbelief. Yet a part of him wasn't surprised. Afterall, he had witnessed all of this before.
"It's astounding..." Scar observed. "Human nature never ceases to amaze me. In times of crisis, it's ironically mankind's unfailing ability to lose themselves and turn on each other that causes the most damage."
Ed nodded solemnly. "My thoughts exactly. Some warped form of survival of the fittest, I suppose."
They turned their backs to the self-inflicted tragedy and continued following the path until they spotted a dim light permeating from the other side of a sea of trees. 'That's probably Al...' Ed presumed. They stepped out into the clearing, proving his assumption to be correct.
Al was the first to notice their arrival and leapt to his feet. "Nii-san! You're here!" He stated in relief.
"Yeah… Al." He whispered absently as his gold eyes scanned the area quickly. In the centre of the clearing was a fire Al had started, the sleeping quarters had already been set up and Noa was setting a pot filled with water onto the flames. But Lust was nowhere to be found…
Noa turned upon hearing Ed's voice, her eyes glimmering with joy, but upon seeing how bad Ed's bullet wound had gotten her hand shot up to muffle her gasp. "Ed… are you hurt?" She extended the same hand towards him, but he backed away from her causing her to retract her hand in surprise.
"… I'm alright… I…" His strangled reassurance was cut off when a sharp pain surged up his arm as he fell to one knee.
"Ed!" Noa, followed by Al, quickly rushed to the weakened boy's side and tried to help steady him.
Not a moment after, Lust emerged from the forest carrying a pouch full of various herbs, leaves, and other such foliage. Her eyes rested on Ed's wound, analysing it like a modern day doctor. She could have easily passed off as one in this era, her knowledge on herbs and remedies was vast.
"Step aside." She ordered Al and Noa in a cool, collected tone. Now was not the time to panic, especially when the already substantial amount of blood loss was increasing by the second. It wasn't fatal, but it could do permanent damage if not properly taken care of.
She walked over and knelt in front of him, and opened the pouch. But when she pulled out a small knife from her pocket, Al and Noa nearly swooned.
"What are you doing?" Noa wailed, already emotionally drained by the recent events.
"Before I can cleanse it, I need to remove the bullet from his arm." She stated plainly. "Or would you rather that we leave it and let it get infected to the point that it will need to be amputated, leaving him with no real arms?" She paused and looked up at Noa through the corner of her eye.
Ed was a little stunned that Lust had figured it out. Afterall, he hadn't shown his arm or leg to her or Scar yet. But at the same time he wasn't surprised, they were both very cunning.
Noa swallowed the sob that was threatening to escape and shook her head. Al didn't like it much either, but knew that letting it prolong would only lead to Lust's prediction.
Al walked over to his brother to offer his support. "Don't, Al." Ed whispered through gritted teeth.
"Nii-san! Stop trying to act so tough! I'm only trying to-"
"Alphonse…" Scar placed a hand on the slightly angered boy's shoulder. "He wants to do it by himself, just let him be."
Al let out a sigh as worry once again became his dominant emotion. He and the others looked on as Lust brought the blade towards the bloodied surface of Ed's arm and tore into the flesh. Ed tilted his head back and dug his hands into the dirt, but didn't cry out once. Afterall, this was nothing compared to automail surgery.
Lust had finally made a wide enough hole in order to remove the bullet without causing further damage to the ligaments and quickly, but gently, pried the bullet out.
She then grabbed a few different types of leaves and warmed them in the palms of her hands, causing them to stick due to their inner juices and placed it onto Ed's shoulder. She then picked up a washrag and ripped a smaller strip off with her teeth and tied it around his arm and the organic antidote.
Ed was mesmerized at the way she worked, it was so quick yet so precise. Lust gave him a pat on his other shoulder and told him to get some rest before she went over to her own makeshift bed to turn in for the night. Not one more word passing between anyone.
Ed lay awake staring up at the starry sky as the others slept, trying his hardest to stay awake. That would probably seem odd to most people. Who doesn't feel content to climb into bed after a long strenuous day and be engulfed in the sanctuary that was sleep? Before journeying across the gate for the second time, Ed would have thought the same thing. But not anymore, for he knew what would happen. He knew that he would dream, and what or better whom, he would dream of.
He raised his automail arm and flexed the hand in front of his eyes. After everything he and Al had gone through to try and restore their bodies, he never once thought about wanting to fix his own. And now that Al was back in the flesh, he knew their quest was complete. Al had protested about wanting to somehow get Ed's real limbs back, but Ed had simply shook his head and told him that it was better this way.
To fix everything would be like concealing his own mistakes, as if they'd never happened, and if they never happened, neither of them would have learned anything and wouldn't have shaped out to be the way they are now. Complete with the knowledge, awareness, and fortitude from life's many trials.
Attempting human transmutation wasn't Al's idea in the first place, and although he did go along with it, he shouldn't have had to suffer from the consequences more than Ed. Besides, after having automail for so long, Ed had grown accustomed to it. To him, they may as well have been his original limbs, he would have had the same feeling towards either of them anyway.
His eyes scanned the surface of the arm, taking in every little detail of the carefully shaped craftsmanship. Winry always was a perfectionist, especially when it came to her automail orders. 'I can't believe she did this for me... how does she always manage to make it look so easy?' He thought in slight befuddlement and admiration for his friend's gifted ability. 'Why did she do it? How the hell did she know I would be coming back, and how did she get my exact measurements right?' He bombarded himself with questions, his only answer being a pounding headache.
He shook himself out of his monologue and focused on his arm once more. He noticed a smudge on the arm's wrist, so he ripped a small piece of cloth from his makeshift bandage, moistened it inside his mouth and started to shine the surface of it with a hint of pride.
Unbeknownst to him, he wasn't the only one awake at this hour. Opposite of the campfire, Noa had been watching him with her bangs hiding her eyes so that she could still see him, but he had no idea that she was still up.
Noa looked on as Ed continued to polish his metal arm as best he could. She had never seen anything like it, he always kept it covered with his long sleeved coat and gloves. It is was an amazing contraption, it can help the lives of so many…
Automail… that was always such a touchy subject with Ed. She had asked Al why that was and he told her it was because someone who was special to them both had given them to Ed...
...Flashback...
I watched as Ed walked back into his room in one of our temporary homes and shut the door behind him without another word. What did I say? I only asked him where he had gotten his new arm and leg from. I didn't mean to spy on him, but I saw him without his shirt on and saw the glimmering steel. So naturally, I asked him about it. He never had a problem when I asked about his old cheap ones.
I heard someone clear their throat from behind me, I turned slightly to see his younger brother Alphonse looking at me sympathetically. My god, he looked so much like Alfons Heiderich, but I had to remind myself that he was only his alter. I still found it hard to believe that there was another reality in which everyone had a twin in the corresponding world. But Al was living proof of that fact.
I realized I was still staring at him as he raised his eyebrow in mock confusion. I could tell he knew what I was thinking. "Can I ask you something?"
He smiled politely and nodded. "Okay, shoot." He's definitely more polite than his brother.
"What is so special about automail? I asked him about his prosthetic limbs before and he didn't mind answering. What makes these ones so special?" I asked as I glanced back at the door Ed had just disappeared into.
Al followed her gaze and let out a sigh. "To be honest Noa-san, I don't really know..." I looked back towards him. "I'm usually very in tune with Nii-san's emotions, but this one has me baffled. I've never seen him this way..."
We were silent for a moment until he continued. "I have a theory though… maybe it's because when he briefly came back to the world I'm from, the return uprooted many old memories, including the ones he wanted to forget. And maybe seeing how much everything had changed took a toll on him."
"But that doesn't explain why he gets so defensive when people ask him about this arm and leg." I protested.
"That's easy, because those fake ones you're talking about weren't made by Winry-chan." He stated as if it was the most obvious answer.
My heart skipped a beat when I heard the familiar name. "Who's that?" I asked. Maybe now I would finally find out about the woman who was always on Ed's mind at nightfall.
Al's eyes widened as he sheepishly grinned at me. "Sorry about that, you don't know... Winry-chan is our best friend since childhood." He went on describing Winry's looks and occupation to me. He spoke of her so fondly. By the time he finished my eyes had widened as I realized that she was the exact same Aryan girl I saw in Ed's dreams when I gazed into them that one night.
Al's once proud eyes saddened when something seemed to dawn on him. "Actually, to tell the truth. That isn't what I think is really bothering him." I tilted my head to the side, practically begging him to continue. "You see, when he first came back to our world, I made sure that Winry was the first person he saw, I thought it would be best that way. They shared a brief moment together before a friend of hers and I caught up with them."
He lowered his gaze to the ground. "You see, Nii-san has never shown much interest in other girls, only on a few occasions. Winry and I are the only ones who he'll act his true self around. He can actually be easy going at times, but to everyone else, he either acts obnoxious or somewhat subdued in some cases." I nodded, the latter was always the way he acted towards me. "I think Nii-san's really growing up. He's starting to gain a sense of sentimentality… in this case, her automail, because he feels those will be the last ones he'll receive from her."
I twirled my braids mindlessly, taking in what Al had said. So my suspicions were right, she was someone who was close to him. "She's the one who Ed dreams about every night, even in the time before you came here…" I stated quietly, more to myself than Al.
He nodded anyway. "That's right. I noticed it too, but since he saw her last time for a short while, he started acting this way. I think it's because now that Nii-san's matured a bit, he's starting to feel overwhelmed with all these emotions he's never felt before and he doesn't know what to do with them, and now that our quest has come to an end, he's starting to gain other priorities…"
He smiled slightly. "... or perhaps I'm giving him too much credit and reading too much into his actions." He chuckled softly.
Before I could say anything, we both heard a door slam and to both of our surprise, saw Ed leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, practically glaring a hole through Al, making him shift uncomfortably.
Yes, it definitely was a touchy subject with Ed, but judging by his expression, Al's theory was right on the money.
...End of Flashback...
Noa looked back at Ed to see that he had finally fallen asleep. She sat up so she could get a better view of his expression, but to her immediate shock it looked troubled. She wanted so much to go and see what was bothering him, but it would be an invasion of his privacy, and he would never forgive her if he found out.
Despite the fact that part of his expression was dark it still held a predominantly dreamy look.
"Winry…"
Of course, she wasn't surprised to hear that come from him. 'I hate feeling this way, but I can't help but feel jealous, but how can I really despise her? I've never met her and for all I know, she could be the sweetest girl in the world. Especially judging by Ed and Al's reactions.'
"Sounds like Nii-san's dreaming…" Noa looked over to see that Al had awoken, but was still lying down with his arms folded behind his head, looking up at the stars.
"Yeah…" She replied. "Hey Al, have you noticed that Ed has been trying not to fall asleep lately?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I have… I tried asking him, but he always changes the subject. I guess you're just noticing it now, but actually this has been going on for a little over a year. Several months after we arrived in this world."
Noa raised her thin eyebrows at the new piece of information. 'How did he keep it hidden for so long?' She wondered.
"It has me really worried..." Al continued. "Nii-san has the feeling that something bad has happened or will happen back in our world, and I know it has something to do with Winry, or he wouldn't be so anxious and stressed out all of the time, but he doesn't believe it could be a premonition…" He trailed off, still not tearing his eyes from the twilight.
Noa glanced back once more at Ed to see that his façade had not changed, and beads of sweat were now dripping down his forehead. Picking up a rag, she moved over to his side and wiped them off before settling back into her own bed and eventually, fell back asleep.
The only audible sound being his voice calling out Winry's name softly as the night lived on.
The next day, the group continued on foot to the northern port, along the way they discovered two people hiding in the bushes near their camp, a Jewish boy and girl in their mid-teens, who turned out to be identical twins. When they found out where Ed and the others were headed, they had asked if they could tag along, and surprisingly, Ed agreed. But then again, he was aware that the Nazis would just love to get their filthy hands on twins, they were especially interested if they were identical…
Ed and Al were walking a bit ahead, while the others trailed behind in a group. Noa's thoughts still lingered on what Al had told her about Ed's recent attitude. She still didn't understand why this was bothering Ed so much.
She cast her gaze downward. 'Childhood friend… right. Anyone can tell that he's in love with her…' She thought sadly.
Noa raised her deep brown eyes towards the back of Ed's head, from her angle she could see his golden eyes narrowed in determination. 'If he cares about her so much, why didn't he tell her? Why weren't they ever together? What was stopping him…?' She gazed into the corner of his eyes, hoping that the answer would pop out.
Noa's eyes widened, then saddened again as a thought crossed her mind. 'Could it be that… he did tell her and she… rejected him…?" She looked deeply into Ed's eyes and could almost detect a hint of sorrow within his molten orbs. 'She didn't return his feelings… she didn't love him?' She thought in despair, as though completely abashed by the mere possibility.
She averted her eyes back to the ground. 'But maybe I'm not being fair, by judging her like that. Maybe it's not like that, and he just never got a chance…'
She was snapped back to reality when everyone halted suddenly and she almost walked into Al.
"Well, we're finally here…" Ed stated.
The group of seven quickly surveyed the area. The northern port was heavily guarded by soldiers, this would definitely be tricky.
"Hey, Nii-san…" Al whispered, trying not to draw any of the guards' attention. "How do you propose that we get everyone onto one of these boats without being seen?"
"Now that I already have figured out…" He stated, not bothering to lower his voice. "You see that lone ship on the easternmost dock?" Al looked over to where Ed was pointing and nodded. "Well, Hughes told me that it belongs to the Danish people, and they use it to help people flee to the neutral territories. There is some good left in this world…"
Al nodded once more. "But why would the guards let it depart? Why wouldn't they shoot the passengers for trying to escape?"
"They don't know that it belongs to Denmark. To the Germans, it's simply another one of their own ships used for spying on other nations. It leaves at six o'clock in the evening, which leaves us with about…' Ed looked up towards the setting sun, trying to figure it out the old-fashioned way.
"How much time to we have, Nii-san?" Al questioned, a bit suspiciously.
"Uh, about five minutes…" He replied sheepishly.
Al shook his head in disappointment. "You really didn't think things through, did you?"
"Hey! I didn't exactly plan for us to get hijacked, then have to travel by foot the rest of the way, Alphonse!" Ed looked back towards the group and motioned for Scar to come over. "I need you to lead the others behind the barracks on the right side of that ship-"
"You mean the starboard side." Al corrected with a teasing grin.
Ed shot him a glare before continuing his directions. "From there, wait for my signal before sneaking on board."
"What's the signal?" Scar inquired.
Ed thought for a moment but came up blank. "I don't know, you'll know it when you see it."
"In other words, Nii-san has no idea." Al stated, as if translating. Ed grimaced, but didn't have a comeback while Scar nodded and returned to the rest of the group.
"And what are we going to do?" Al asked.
"I am going to distract the guards, now that security has lessened, and you are-"
"I am going to be right there helping you, so don't even try to keep me out of danger. Haven't you realized that if it never worked before, it's not going to work now?" Al stated with a smile. Ed looked at him for a moment as if to protest, but thought better of it and motioned for Al to follow.
"It's going to be difficult without alchemy." Ed said as he quickened his pace, straight for the small battalion.
"We'll find a way, we always do." Al replied, matching his brother's strides in perfect unison.
One of the soldiers turned. "(Hey, you! Get out of here, this is a restricted area)!"
Ed grinned maniacally as he rolled up his sleeve and started charging at the soldier with Al right on his heels.
The soldier didn't even have time to pull out his rifle before Ed punched him in the jaw with his automail fist. The soldier cried out as he clutched his limp jaw causing the other soldiers to look up and begin to open fire on the boys with little success. Agility was definitely on the Elrics' side.
On the sidelines behind the barracks, Scar and the others looked on. "Do you suppose that's his signal?" Lust asked him with a slight smirk.
"I'd say so." Scar rose and guided the others towards the dock and helped them all aboard. Thankfully, none of the guards had noticed them as they were too preoccupied with the first distraction.
In almost no time at all, Ed and Al had knocked the few soldiers out cold, being careful not to kill them. Afterall, they too were just following orders. "Well that was surprisingly easy." Al rubbed the side of his head, he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Yeah, but we've been in battles with robots, chimeras, the homunculi and even the military in our world. Stuff like this is just not worthy of our skill." Ed stated while dusting off his hands.
They turned to see that the only ones still on the dock who hadn't been laid out was Scar and Lust, who were waiting for them in front of the boat. "So, this is where we part ways." Scar stated.
Ed and Al walked up to them. "You knew that we never intended on coming?" Ed asked.
"We are aware of your situation. That you're not from here, but from another world." Lust replied. "We overheard you two talking about it, and we have no reason to refute the idea that there may be an alternate reality, parallel to this one."
Ed and Al exchanged a look of bewilderment, but weren't surprised they had figured it out. Afterall, they did know that Ed's left leg and right arm were fake without much of a hint. It was the slight difference in sound when he walked was all they had said, and his overcoat didn't always completely conceal his arm.
From onboard the small boat, Noa couldn't believe what she was hearing. They had to come! He had to come! She ran to the edge of the boat and looked up at Ed. "What do you mean? You have to come with us!" She cried as she outstretched her arms towards him.
"Noa…" Ed whispered, he turned his attention towards the Jewish twins. "What are you two doing? Hold on to her!" They did as he'd ordered, trying their best to restrain the broken Gypsy woman.
"If you don't want to go up north, that's okay. But please, take me with you this time!" Noa pleaded, trying to break free from the twins' grip.
"Noa, why are you doing this?" Ed asked in annoyance, he seriously didn't know why.
She paused for a moment before choking out. "… haven't you figured it out yet...?"
Ed's eyes softened a bit as he spoke gently, he didn't want to upset the girl any further. "Noa, you know why I won't… you've seen it in my dreams."
Noa's eyes widened. 'He knows… but how?' She wondered even though it truly wasn't relevant anymore. He was leaving and once he got his mind set on anything, nothing could ever change it. Realizing what a scene she was making she backed down from the edge slowly. She didn't want Ed's last memory of her to be like this.
Ed looked back up towards Scar. "I guess this is goodbye." He extended his hand towards him. Scar looked at him before letting a small smile pass as he accepted Ed's gesture for a moment before following Lust on board.
"Good luck on the rest of your journey boys. Don't do anything too reckless!" Lust called over her shoulder as the twins helped them aboard.
As the boat started to pull away, Noa still couldn't tear her eyes away from the man she treasured so much. To her, he was the perfect man, one who never once differentiated people by their skin colour or showed any other form of racism.
Ed smiled at her weakly. He didn't exactly feel guilty, but he still didn't like seeing any girl so upset, especially if they were in tears.
Before the boat was out of earshot, he called out to her one last time. "It's going to be alright, Noa! Just remember this; you have a strong pair of legs, so why don't you use them? You have potential to do great things, don't let all of that go to waste!" Were his final words to her, the sentence that so easily slid off his tongue.
For he knew that none of them would ever meet again…
As the horizon disappeared from view, Noa collapsed on her knees. 'It's over... he's really gone…' She leaned back against the side of the boat and brought her knees up to her chest.
A part of her thought she would have eventually grown on Ed, and that he would have given up on Winry and settled for her. Yet the other part couldn't help but admire his devotion. She had thrown him countless signals, but he hardly even batted an eye. He was content living with the Aryan girl's memory then giving the idea of forgetting her a second thought.
It was clear, he had a home and it wasn't with them.
'He must have subconsciously chosen Winry a long time ago… and that's why he doesn't show much interest in other girls…' Noa concluded to herself. 'Besides, what man wouldn't be enticed by her looks? She's complete with celestial blonde hair, aquamarine eyes, and a smile so full of joy yet could still be serene, noble, and... innocent.'
For a moment, Noa wondered how she could've even competed with Winry when innocence was a factor. Afterall, as a Gypsy, or better yet a wanderer with no money to support herself with, other than the meager amount she made as a fortune teller, she had been forced into prostitution at a young age. But of course, all of that changed after Ed took her in.
Noa tilted her head back and gazed up at the stars that were starting to materialize. Surprisingly, a small smile tugged at her lips, even as she finally admitted defeat.
'... stand up and walk forward…' Edward Elric always followed this motto, and now she would too.
Ed retrieved his suitcase and rejoined up with Al. The two walked around the small town for a while being careful as not to be seen by some of the German soldiers who were suiting up and loading some sort of foreign ammunition into the combat planes. Obviously, this port was used as a launch pad and one of the country's aerial bases.
Al's eyes studied the different weaponry in mild curiosity. "Nii-san… what's all that?" Al asked in his naïve innocence.
"Blitzkrieg warfare, Al." Ed answered with a hint of disgust. "The German Alfons told me about it. I have no idea where they intend to strike first, but I have my suspicions…. you see, the German army has divided its' forces: one preparing to go east, and one preparing to go west. It's difficult for them to do so because the country is already starting to divide in Berlin."
"Why's that?" Al asked.
"Too much civil unrest with the new leader." He stated plainly.
They continued walking in silence for a few minutes until Al spoke up again. "So Germany will start again?"
Ed nodded "Yeah, you were right, Al. There's going to be another big war in this world, and it's going to end far worse than the first."
Al dug his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Nii-san, do you still… you know… want to get involved?"
Ed chuckled softly. "I did say that before, didn't I? But…" His eyes narrowed. "I just couldn't bring myself to call this place my permanent home, not before or now. And I can't imagine either of us wanting to live on here. Especially with the Nazi leader's 'final solution' being invoked before the war has even started. When other countries find out what he's doing, it won't be pretty. Just like Hughes said."
"But that nutcase is going to kill all those innocent people!" Al protested. "Isn't there something we can do?"
"We can't change destiny, Al. It's not our world." Ed calmly replied. "So many countries in Europe and across the sea have already closed off their borders to refugees, but the people of this world will learn the hard way, when the results of their ignorance is catastrophic."
Al averted his gaze to the ground. "Honestly, how bad do you think it's going to get?"
"It's going to be bad Al, really bad, but we're not going to stick around for it. We don't have any leads on the uranium bomb's whereabouts, but as soon as we do locate it…" He turned to his younger brother and smiled at him. "We're going home, back to our world."
Al looked up at him and smiled in return. 'Finally…'
Disclaimer: This little gem belongs to Hiromu Arakawa.