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Chapter 7

An Impossible Promise

One month has passed since the Elrics returned home. Lt. Colonel Thomas is healing and adjusting to his new leg. Alphonse is busy rebuilding their old home. Ed and Winry are enjoying the time together. It's a pleasant morning and Al is getting ready to head out to work. Ed is still half asleep trying to get ready to help his brother. Rebuilding a home that was completely burned down was a lot harder then he had realized. The two brothers decided not to use alchemy to do this. Rebuilding it from scratch would make this seem like more of home then a quick use of alchemy.

Thomas is sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee and smoking from his pipe along with Pinacco. An old wooden cane is beside him. The crutches are close in case the cane isn't enough. The new automail has been completed and they just attached it last week. His wound has not fully healed so taking it slow for a while longer is required. Al heads out the door to head to their old house. Ed only puts in a small amount of time each day. He finds working with Winry is much more enjoyable. He gives a soon to be wife a kiss and heads out the door. Al waits for him outside so they can walk up together.

"I can't believe you and Winry are getting married."

"I know. I didn't think I would marrying a woman that I'm afraid of."

"She is good for you brother. No matter what happens I know that she loves you and will always love you."

"Geez Al don't get too mushy on me. But I know that you are right."

They arrive at their house. Only a few exterior walls are up and the base for the floor is done. Al works there until dinner time every night. Today is the day they start adding a roof. Al gets everything set up to start working. Ed sits by the old tree drinking coffee trying to wake up a little more. The breeze on face feels refreshing and makes him appreciate the day even more.

"Al, there is something I need to discuss with you."

"It's about what Uncle Thomas said isn't it?"

At the Rockbells house Thomas is talking to Pinacco and Winry. They aren't very happy with right now. Mustang sent him orders to heal and also to talk with Ed.

"I know that Ed and Al are happy here and that you two are getting married. General Mustang wants Ed to do some small work for him in Central. There seems to be a strange case of people disappearing in Central and in the East. Now please before you get mad and kill me let me explain a little more. Ed will not become a full active State Alchemist. Think of him more like a consultant. No dangerous fighting or dealing with whoever is in charge here. They are afraid that alchemy may be being used in the disappearances and want someone of Ed's back round to take a look. All he will have to do is make a report of the area where the person was last known and drop it off to Mustang.

"I don't like it one bit. Those boys have had enough dealings with the military. It's only asking for trouble if they go."

"Granny, you know Ed will go. If Ed goes then so will Al. I trust Mustang enough to keep an eye on the both of them."

The two make there way back to the house. Ed stayed a little longer today working with Al from the talk they needed to have. Al has decided that he will go to Central if Ed does not. They get in the house and Winry is waiting on Ed.

"Ed we need to talk."

They go upstairs and into Winrys room. Ed now sleeps up there every night. This is going to be hard talk for both of them. Ed just coming home, getting married to Winry in one year and now this.

"I know what you are going to say Winry. I haven't decided on anything yet. I need to know it's ok with you before I do anything in Central."

"Ed I would love to say don't go but I know you will worry about everyone up there if I keep you here. I can't afford to lose you again. Not now, not ever. Please Ed promise me that if it gets too dangerous you will not help out anymore. Promise me that this wont be another fight that you must be a part of."

"Winry I have no ambition to fight for the State. Those times are behind me. I am ready to settle down with you. This is just going to be a easy job that will help us out with a little extra money."

"Please come home soon. We have a lot of planning to do in the next year."

"I will. I love you Winry and I will be home as much as possible."

Downstairs Al is talking things over with Thomas. He is getting as much information out of him. So far two hundred people haven't been seen again in Central. Al makes a phone call and books a train to leave in the morning. Ed and Winry come down and Ed signals to book a seat for him. Pinacco gives a long sigh and goes outside. Thomas grabs his cane and joins her. This allows the three of them one last night together before they leave in the morning.

"Wow if I thought doing this kind of work was so easy I would have started a long time ago."

Ed is investigating a room of an old house that a family of four vanished from. Al is outside checking anything he can. This was a military family that was the most recent to vanish. The house was not disturbed one bit. No traces of alchemy and no signs of a struggle at all. This case has gotten a hold of Ed simply from being so damn curious. Mustang has a new home every week and random spots to check every day. He fills out his report and Al enters the home.

"Well Al I guess this house is another dead end. I've finished the report. I guess we need to go see Mustang again. Damn him every time we get done we gotta go all the way to Central give him a report that has nothing and then go to the next spot. Why don't we just go to all the places first and then go back once we are done. He sure does love to make us run around."

"He worries about us Ed. You have to admit it is a little scary seeing so many empty houses with no trace of anyone."

"Nah it's not scary. They all probably just moved to get away from the General. Hey Al why don't you take this report to Mustang I wanna just go on ahead to last stop and finish it up there."

Al takes it and heads to see Mustang. Ed says that he will meet him Roy's office when he is done. Ed heads onto the next stop which is a old alley that use to full of people living there and now no one. Two months have gone by since they started investigating and haven't found a single clue. Al is walking toward down the road heading to Capitol building when a car stops and four men jump out. Before Al can react he is knocked out.

Ed finishes up his report in the alley. No sign of anyone yet again. These reports are getting to be so boring but the pay is fantastic. A consultant for the military pays very well. He gathers his things and starts making his way back to see Mustang.

"Who are you? Where am I? Please let me go I haven't done anything wrong."

"Just relax kid. This will be over quickly."

"Who said that? Why are you doing this?" Al looks over to his right and sees something laying next to him.

"Why is that there?"

"Don't worry Alphonse you will see your brother very soon."

Al is blind folded and knocked out again. Ed finally reaches the Centrals Capitol building. His body is tired. Walking around as much as they do a day hasn't gotten any easier. Once he reaches the top of the stairs he hears a cars brakes screeching near him. He turns around and sees a figure being thrown from the car. He runs down to check on the person and removes the hood over the their head.

"Brother is that you?"

Roy and Riza are working in the office. He hasn't had a moments free time with this case. The councilmen want answers and he has none to give. They hear running down the hall. Ed opens the door and runs at Mustang. He grabs him by the jacket and stands him up.

"Who is doing this?"

"Ed what's wrong?"

"Tell me Roy. Who do you think is responsible for what's going on?"

"Ed please put the General down. What has happened?"

"Just tell me damn it. I want names."

"Ed if I knew I would tell you now what is going on?"

"I'll kill them. Every last one of them. Look. Look at what they did to Al."

Alphonse slowly walks into the room holding his head down. Riza drops her papers and covers her mouth. She starts to cry and sits down unable to stand. Roy's eyes widen and shock hits him. Ed lets go of him slams his hands on the desk. He cannot look at Roy anymore. He turns to look at his brother standing there in front of them all. They all knew that suit of armor was Alphonse and that nothing was inside of it.