Chapter 12: False Memories?
Aang's eyes began to slowly open as he felt a familiar sense on his body. He looked up to see a certain Waterbender working with some water over his slash wound on his chest that he got from fighting Slicer.
"K.. Katara?"
She stopped her healing for a second and turned to the wounded Avatar. "Aang!" She wasted no time in wrapping her arms around him in relief. "Thank god your okay!"
"I'm fine don't worry. Just a scratch." He dismissed as he embraced her back.
"Good to see you made it Twinkle Toes" Toph said as she was sitting in a chair next to his bed and punched him in the arm, not surprising to him.
"Nice to see you still in one piece buddy." Sokka stated as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Aang smiled at his friends. "Hey where are...?"
"A hospital here in Central." Katara answered before he could finsh. "We brought you guys here after what happened at the laboratory."
Aang's eyes soon widened in realization. "Wait where's Ed?! Zuko?! Al!?"
"Aang calm down." Sokka told him. "See for yourself."
Sokka pulled back a curtain to reveal Ed sitting on a hospital bed as well, wearing hospital clothing and wrapped in bandages. Zuko was sitting in a chair next to him, his black Automail arm was now clearly visible but the shoulder on his other arm was wrapped up. Ross and Brosh we're present as well.
Aang smiled at the sight of his friends, but the smile vanished when he saw Ed had a less-than-pleased look on his face.
"Uh, hey Ed, Zuko." Aang greeted somewhat nervously.
"What happened with the Fifth Laboratory?" Ed asked immediately.
Most of the group winced at that question.
"Something happened with the lab?" Aang honestly asked, due to being knocked out with Ed at that time.
Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… funny story." He said as Katara gave a nervous smile and laugh.
"You see uh…" Zuko said nervously as well.
"Well um…" Brosh began.
"Somebody blew up the building and now it's all a pile of rubble." Toph answered like it was nothing.
"Dammit! You mean they wiped out everything!?" Ed yelled but then held his wound as it suddenly ached.
"Take it easy, you lost a lot of blood." Zuko told his younger brother.
"This… isn't fair." Ed whined.
"Life's not fair, get used to it Metal-butt." Toph told him.
"Do you know how close we we're to finding out the Truth? This is no time to be lying in a hospital!"
Ross and Brosh looked to each other and nodded.
"Fullmetal Alchemist, Sir!" both officers said in a militaristic tone, surprising all the kids present. "We apologize in advanced for this!"
*Slap*
*Slap*
*Slap*
Ed, Zuko, and Aang had been comically slapped in the face by Ross, causing everyone (even Toph) to wince slightly.
"Each and every one of you acted like spoiled children!" Ross yelled. "The same goes for the rest of you!" She said looking towards Toph, Katara, and Sokka. "You only escaped with your lives because you we're lucky!"
Ross' mood calmed down a bit. "You kids don't have to do everything on your own you know, you can lean on other people. Like us, not all adults are the enemy, you can trust us."
Ed and Aang especially lowered their heads a bit, honestly feeling guilt. Zuko looked to the side with the same expression.
"That's all!" Both officers said returning to a militiristic tone. "Please forgive our abusive words and conduct sirs! It will not happen again!"
"No, you're right, we had that coming." Ed replied.
"Yeah, its us who should be apologizing." Zuko added.
"My punishment? For slapping you?" Ross added, still in militaristic
"What? Punishment?" Aang honestly asked.
"Oh, make her do a hundred push-ups." Toph hopped with a mischievous smile, earning a slight glare from Katara.
"No punishment, we had it coming." Zuko told them; causing both officers to give a huge sigh of relief.
"Geeze, what's got you guys so scared of us?" Sokka questioned as everyone sweat dropped
"State-Certified Alchemists carry a military ranking equivalent to that of a major." Ross explained.
"And on top of that, his older brother here is a king of a whole country." Brosh added referring to Zuko.
"And, one of you also happens to be the messiah for the whole planet." Ross added as well, referring to the Avatar.
Aang sighed. "I really don't like it when people treat me like I'm some kind of god or something they have to worship."
"I may be a king, but I don't like to be treated like a massive monarch either." Zuko added.
"And I didn't get my state certification so people could kiss up to me." Ed added as well.
"You guys don't have to treat us like we're high ranking officers or anything."
"Though it would be nice." Sokka began only to get elbowed by Toph.
"Really? Oh." Ross said in relief with a smile, as her eyes became dots.
"Well, I guess we we're scared of the brats for nothing." Brosh said in relief too.
"They adjust quickly." Toph and Ed irritatingly thought at the same time.
"Hey, where's Al?" Aang wondered.
"Yeah, I haven't seen him." Ed noticed.
"Alphonse got his own lecture earlier." Brosh answered. "But I was the one who did the slapping." He comically cried as he held a red pulsing hand.
The group gave light laughs, but Ed soon realized something that made him wince in horror as a single hair on his head shot straight up.
"I almost forgot. I have an even less pleasant lecture in store for me today."
Ross and Brosh looked to each other in honest curiosity; where as Zuko, Aang, Katara, and Sokka knew who he was talking about and winced at the thought of a wrench in Ed's head again.
"Let me guess." Toph began with a smile. "The Grease Monkey?"
Hallway
Ed was now on the phone. With Zuko and Toph by his side on the bench
"Hello. Rockwell Prosthetic Limb Outfitters?" Winry answered on the other side of the line. "Oh Ed, since when do you ever bother to call us, is something wrong?"
"Yeah, here's the deal I hate to ask you, but do you think you can make a service call out to Central for me?"
"A service call?" Winry questioned.
"Yeah, my right arm's messed up again. I can move the fingers but that's about it, I can't lift the arm at all." Ed explained as his Automail arm was in a sling.
Winry gave a light gasp and winced as she looked at a screw with a tag that said 'A – 08' on it. A screw that she forgot to put in the arm when Ed stopped by last time.
"Yeah that sounds about right." Ed gave a slight 'eh' at that. "Nothing, just talking to myself. So what we're you doing when the arm stopped working?"
Ed gave a gulp, where as Toph gave a slight smile at the thought of Winry comically yelling at Ed again.
"I was in a really rough fight."
"YOU DID IT AGAIN MORON!? HOW COULD YOU TREAT MY PRECIOUS AUTOMAIL LIKE THAT ALCHEMY FREAK?!"
That is what Ed imagined would be Winry's reaction a he held the phone away from his ear while Zuko looked curiously at Ed's action. Ed looked confused when no reaction came from the phone.
"Uh you there? Hello Winry?"
"Guess I got no choice. Tell me how to get there."
Ed actually looked surprised at the calm reaction, as did Toph who could hear the whole conversation.
"You're sure in a good mood today." Ed stated. "I thought you we're going… you know what, never mind, forget it. Yeah. Yep. Sorry again, and thanks. Alright, good bye."
Ed hung up the phone and sighed in relief.
"That went better than expected." Zuko observed.
"I thought she would have popped a vein." Toph said.
"Aw, was that your girlfriend?" Brosh asked Ed as he was there the whole time, earning a snicker from Toph and a slight grin from Zuko.
"MY GIRLFRIEND?! NO WAY!" Ed yelled as blood comically sprayed from his wound.
Brosh was pushing Ed's wheelchair as he had a scowl on his face, with Zuko walking on his right, and Toph walking on his left.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was your age, I had a different girlfriend every week." Brosh said.
"Yeah right." Toph said, easily catching on his lie.
The group soon stopped by a dark corridor where a certain individual was sitting on a bench.
"Yo Tin can! How you doing?" Toph called to Alphonse.
"What are you doing sitting in the dark by yourself?" Ed called to him as well.
"Hey, Earth to Al!" Toph yelled at him, finally getting his attention.
"Guys."
"You know you can come to the room right?" Ed told him. Al simply stared, earning confused looks from Toph and Ed, Zuko however had a pretty good guess what was on his mind.
"I'll be there in a little while, you go on ahead." Al said.
"Okay?" Ed replied as he, Brosh, and Toph went on ahead.
Ed soon noticed Zuko still in the same spot. "Zuko?"
"I'll catch up."
They then left after that. When they we're far enough Zuko walked into the corridor and sat next to Alphonse.
"I don't need to read minds to guess what you're probably thinking right now." Zuko said as Al looked down. "Al, that guy himself said he was a serial killer, and he was evidentially a psychopath. Have you stopped to consider that he only said what he said just to mess with your head?"
"But what proof do we have?" Al quietly asked. "What proves that I'm really me? Sure there's that picture of Mom, but that only proves that you and Ed are related. And besides that, you and I only just met a short time ago, the pieces seem to fit." Al said as his helmeted head lowered even further.
"You want proof?" Zuko asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a certain piece of paper. "This is proof." He handed it to Al, he took it and immediately recognized it.
"The note from Mom?"
"Yeah, our mother, Alphonse." Zuko began. "Ed and I can easily vouch for her handwriting. That letter is written to all of us; Me, Ed, Azula, and you. And I know for a fact, that she would never be a part of something so horrible. You have real memories of her, and you know how good of a person she was."
Al looked further down.
"There are plenty of bad people in the world." Zuko began. "My Father, Scar, Berry, and many others, they'll say anything to get inside your head and try and hurt you; but our mother is not one of those people." He put his Automail arm on Al's armored shoulder. "You're a smart kid little brother, I'm sure you can figure this out."
Zuko stood up and then walked away.
Al looked down.
'Are you sure you're not a puppet created by your so-called brother?'
Berry's words still rang through his head. Despite what Zuko just told him, Al still seemed unsure of himself.
Central Train Station
Winry just got off the train with her suitcase. She was rubbing her sore rear. "That left me really sore. I don't understand how Ed, Al, and Zuko can ride o these things."
Winry then walked deeper into the train station. "Ed said to look near the west exit." She said as she looked around.
"Hey Winry!" A voice called out to her.
Near the West Exit was Katara who was waving to her.
"Oh Katara! Hey!" Winry greeted as she ran closer to her.
"It's good to see you again, how're you doing?" Katara greeted.
Winry looked around. "Where are those stupid Elric brothers?"
Katara winced slightly. "Yeah… about that."
Winry looked confused for a second and Katara whispered lightly into her ear.
"The hospital!?" Winry exclaimed in honest shock. "What happened?!"
Hospital Room
Winry and Katara arrived at the hospital in record time. They reached the room where Ed, Aang, and Zuko we're in; with Toph, Sokka, Armstrong, Brosh, and Ross in it as well. Winry dropped her suitcase as soon as she saw Ed bandaged up.
"Well, that was fast." Aang observed.
"Grease Monkey doesn't waste time." Toph observed as well.
"You're gonna charge me an express service fee aren't you?" Ed guessed as he sweated.
Winry looked at his bandaged chest and suddenly felt guilty. "No.. I won't charge you for this. I didn't do a good enough job on your Automail last time." She looked down with her hair covering her eyes. "And now you're badly injured."
All eyes fell to Ed who looked around frantically at them.
"It's not your fault you can't blame yourself for this!" Ed quickly said. "I broke it because I was being reckless! You're repairs we're as flawless as ever! This was all my fault!"
Winry thought for a moment. "He has no idea. He never noticed that I failed to put in that screw."
"And besides, the guy we we're fighting was really strong." Aang added as well, considering he was there as well. "Seriously, even I couldn't keep up with him. So if you want to blame anyone, blame him."
"So it turned out alright?" Winry thought before her eyes became four-pointed stars and she gave a joyous laugh.
"Well then lets get right down to business shall we? I'll have to charge you the usual rush-order fee of course." Ed winced at that. Winry turned to Zuko. "Hey while I'm here I can give you a few adjustments too Zuko."
"I'd appreciate that, thanks." Zuko thanked.
Winry then looked towards Ed's food tray and noticed something. "You didn't drink your milk."
"Here we go." Katara thought as she playfully rolled her eyes, having a good idea of where this was going.
Ed turned his head immaturely. "Why should I? I hate it."
"YOUR GONNA BE SMALL AND STUPPLE FOREVER IF YOU KEEP USING THAT STUPID EXCUSE!"
"SHUT UP! I DON'T HAVE TO DRINK IT IF I DON'T WANNA!"
"You sound like a spoiled little brat Edward Elric!" Major Armstrong exclaimed as he took off his shirt (again) and flexed his muscles.
"Did you have to strip?" Aang asked the major.
"It's his thing, remember?" Toph replied to Aang
"Every growing boy needs his milk." Ross said in an almost motherly tone.
"Yeah, you want the girls to like you right?" Sokka teased.
The door closed a bit as Al was watching the whole thing.
"Was that Tin Can?" Toph questioned as everyone looked towards the door as Al walked away down the hall.
Some Time Later
Winry was putting the finishing touches on Ed's arm.
"I don't get it, Al's been acting weird lately." Ed said.
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that too." Katara added.
"Weird how?" Winry asked as she put in the aforementioned screw.
"Just seems like something's been bothering him." Ed replied.
"Hormones maybe?" Sokka guessed, resulting in everyone face-palming. "What?"
"His body's a suit of armor, remember?" Aang reminded. He turned to Zuko. "You know what's going on with him?"
"He's just got some things on his mind right now, I'm sure he'll be alright." Zuko explained.
Winry finshed working on Ed's arm and then said, "Okay you're all set."
Ed got back up. "Well done." He began to roll around his Automail with a smile. "Ah, it feels good to have it back. Thanks a lot."
"Sure, no problem." Winry responded. She looked to Zuko who now had his Automail fully out. "You sure adapted to your arm pretty quickly."
"Yeah, it's really grown on me." Zuko noted as he flexed his metal hand.
The door opened and Hughes came in with Ross snickering behind him.
"Yo Ed my boy! Is it true you brought a pretty blonde girl in your room to service you?"
Ed comically fell to the floor with blood comically coming from his wound again, with Winry, Katara, and Aang looking surprised, and Sokka snickered with Toph with Zuko giving an amused smile.
"She's my Automail mechanic! That's all! Nothing more!"
"Oh, I see. So you've seduced your mechanic have you?" Hughes guessed coming to the wrong conclusion.
Ed gripped his head. "THAT ISN'T WHAT I SAID AT ALL! Who told you that anyway?!"
"Yo!" Toph said as she laughed and held up her hand.
"Toph!" Katara and Winry both exclaimed.
"Aw, come on! It was funny! Ha ha ha! Really loved your reactions Ha ha ha!" She laughed as Aang, Sokka, and Zuko sweat dropped.
"Remind me to kick your ass later." Ed grimaced.
"You couldn't even if you wanted to." She replied with a large grin.
Despite that, Hughes took Winry's hand and shook it (rather rapidly).
"Maes Hughes. I'm pleased to meet you young lady."
"You too, I'm Winry Rockbell."
"Not to sound rude colonel Hughes, but don't you have work to do?" Aang asked
"Nope it's all under control. I gave Sheska some over time." Hughes replied.
"That poor woman." Katara said as she imagined an exhausted Sheska.
"Oh yeah, I think you guys will be happy to know, you kids shouldn't need to be kept under guard for too much longer." Hughes told them.
"Really?" Aang asked.
"Great." Ed said gratefully.
"Finally." Toph and Sokka said at the same time.
"That's a relief." Katara said as well.
"Sure is." Zuko agreed.
"What did you…" Winry thought, having just heard about this. "Hold on just a second! How much trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" She asked Ed in an accusing tone.
"Um... Well you see…" Ed began before taking a deep breath. "Well, it's nothing that concerns you." He turned around.
"Oh boy, he's gonna get it now." Toph thought, imagining Winry yelling at Ed again.
After a few seconds of silence Winry spoke up. "Of course not, I don't know why I bother to try, it's not like you'll try to talk to me anyway."
"Awkward." Sokka said out loud.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Winry began as she took up her suitcase. "I have to go to see if I can find a place to stay tonight."
Hughes then got an idea. "Come on, no need for that. Why don't you spend the night at my place?"
"Really?"
"Yes of course, my wife and daughter would be delighted to have you. Oh, Katara, you and Toph should come to."
"Really?" Katara asked.
"Wait, what?" Toph questioned.
"It's settled come on now." Hughes then literally dragged the three girls out of the room.
"Do you have to drag us?" Katara questioned.
"This better be good." Toph grimaced.
As soon as Hughes left with the girls the boys looked with surprise evident on their faces.
"Now that's awkward." Aang observed.
"You said it." Zuko and Ed both agreed at the same time.
Hughes Residence
Confetti fell as party poppers we're popped, much to the surprise of the three girls sitting at the table.
"Happy birthday Elisia!" Most of the guests cheered as Hughes' daughter blew out the candles.
Toph was the first to come up to Hughes. "Uh Hughes, what the hell is going on?" She whispered.
"I'm so glad you asked that Toph. Today happens to be my little Elisia's birthday!"
"Yummy birthday!" Elisia happily said.
Both Katara and Winry put on a smile as they came close to Elisia.
"Well Happy birthday Elisia." Katara told the little girl.
"So how old are you?" Winry asked.
"I'm two. No I'm three." She said flashing three fingers.
"Aw that's so cute." Katara said in a cutie tone.
"Aaaaand, we've just been scammed." Toph said in a dull tone.
Two Hours Later
Hughes, Winry, Toph, and Katara we're now sitting in some chairs. Elisia was sitting on Winry's lap, with Momo sleeping on Katara's lap.
"I've known Ed and Al for as long as I can remember, they're like my brothers, we grew up together." Winry explained to Hughes.
"And I'm sure knowing those two, they must give you plenty to worry about." Hughes said.
"That's an understatement." Winry replied.
"You said it." Katara agreed. "The guys I know give me all kinds of worry."
"You surprised? That's how things are for our little gang." Toph told her.
"Well the last time they visited it was because Ed's arm was all busted up; and Zuko needed an Automail as well." Winry recalled. "Finding out those two have a third brother was quite the shocker."
"And they have a sister too." Toph said in a nonchalant way.
"Saywha?!" Winry responded quickly.
"Yeah, but she's not the friendliest person to be around, trust me." Katara said with a grim tone.
Winry looked down a bit. "And now he calls me out here because he's seriously been injured again. Something's bothering Al too. They keep their mouths shut though, they don't ever tell me what's going on. Zuko seems like the silent type too. Guess they really are brothers"
Katara sighed a bit too. "I know what that's like. Aang's the Avatar, so he carries a lot of responsibility. Sometimes he can be secretive too, and doesn't say if something's bothering him."
"Maybe nothing needed to be said." Hughes suggested, getting the two girls' attention. "You two know these boys. It's possible they'd thought you understand without them saying anything."
"Maybe." Winry said.
"Wouldn't hurt though if they just come out and say something." Katara added as well.
Hughes took off his glasses to cling them. "Just what am I gonna do with you two?"
"You got me Four Eyes." Toph told Hughes. "Sugar Queen and Grease Monkey here are as soft as a pair of jelly fish." She cracked, earning a slight glare from the two.
"'Grease Monkey'?" Winry asked, taking some insult from that.
"She has habit of coming up with nicknames." Katara explained. "She calls Aang 'Twinkle Toes', and Ed 'Metal Butt'."
Winry giggled a bit. "'Metal Butt', that's a good one."
"Well, in general, men try to let their actions speak instead of words." Hughes continued to explain.
"Sounds about right. I let my actions speak for me too." Toph said.
"When they're in pain they don't want to burden anyone with it. Not if they can help it. They don't want anyone to worry about them. That's how they are. Even so, there may come a time when they'll ask for your help. And when you do, I know you'll be there for them, both of you."
Katara and Winry both looked to each other and smiled.
Three little boys then came to the group.
"Elisia we wanna play, let's go!" one boy said.
"Will you put me down now?" Elisia asked Winry.
"Sure, there you go." Winry said as she set Elisia down.
A boy took Elisia's hand.
"Hey you get away from here, Elisia wants to play with me not you!"
The boys soon started arguing over which one would get to play with Elisia. Katara, Winry, and Toph gave amused smiles at the scene.
"Well what do you know? Three years old and already quite the heartbreaker." Toph joked.
Hughes however, was not sharing the same humor. He soon took out his pistol. The boys began to quake as they saw Hughes with a dark aura around him and his glasses shining brightly.
"Listen up boys. You try anything with my daughter, and you will answer to me!"
"Your actions speak too loudly!" Katara and Winry said at the same time.
"Uh oh. Badass, overprotective father alert!" Toph joked.
The Next Morning
"You sure you have to go? You three are welcomed to stay with us for as long as your in town." Mrs. Hughes offered Katara, Winry, and Toph.
"Thank you Mrs. Hughes but we don't want to be a burden." Katara replied.
Winry soon felt her sleeve being pulled down, the same with Katara. Both looked down to Elisia pulling down on their selves.
"Well, looks like we got a clinger." Toph observed.
"Elisia's gotten very attached to you kids." Mrs. Hughes observed.
Colonel Hughes gave a slight laugh. "Well would you look at that, the four of you could be sisters."
"Sissies!" Elisia said to all three of them. "Be safe okay? And promise me you'll come visit me again real soon."
Mrs. Hughes smiled. "It's settled. You three are staying with us again tonight."
Toph shrugged. "Sure, why not? Beats that small hotel room."
Katara and Winry both kneeled to Elisia. "Hey Katara, looks like we got a little sister." Winry told her.
"Looks like it." Katara observed with a smile.
Elisia wrapped her arms around both their necks and Toph patted the little girl's head, smiling too.
Hospital
Within the hospital room that Ed, Aang, and Zuko we're recovering in, Sokka staying with them as well, Ed found himself glaring at his arch enemy. Milk. "So we meet again you little bastard, I'm not gonna drink you."
"Is it sad that you think milk is your mortal nemesis?" Sokka questioned.
"If you're not gonna drink it, can I have it?" Aang asked, honestly liking Milk.
"Brother. You have a living body that needs nourishment, you have to drink it." Al said in a depressing tone, which Zuko noticed.
Ed stubbornly tore off some bread with his teeth. "I don't have to if I don't want to."
"Your more stubborn than Toph." Aang observed with a joking smile.
Meanwhile; Hughes, Katara, Toph, and Winry we're walking down the hall to the room where Brosh and Ross we're standing guard. They saluted to the colonel as he came by with the girls.
"Hey, it may not look like it but I have grown some! But everyone still calls me a pipsqueak."
"Well, you are shorter than most people in Team Avatar…" Sokka began.
"Shut up Pony Tail!" Ed comically yelled at Sokka.
"Hey this is a warrior's wolf tail! Very manly!" Sokka pouted as he pointed to his 'wolf tail'.
Ed sighed. "I wish I was like you Al." earning a slight look of shock from Zuko, having a good idea of where this could lead to.
"You got such a big body now."
'Oh no.' Zuko thought.
Al quickly stood up just as the girls walked into the room. "It's not like I asked for this body brother!" He angrily exclaimed.
Aang, Ed, Katara, Toph, Winry, and Sokka all looked surprised at Al's sudden outburst. Zuko looked shocked, but not surprised.
Ed suddenly felt guilty. "Sorry, you're right. It's my fault that it happened. But I'll make it right, I'll get you back in your real body, you'll see Al…"
"That's what you always say, but you don't know that for sure!" Al angrily interrupted.
"L..Look I promise I'm gonna get you back. Believe me Al, I'll do it."
"Believe you?" Al questioned. "How am I supposed to believe anything while I'm stuck in this body!? What should I believe in?! My Memories?! Memories are just scraps of information that can be made up as easily as anything else!"
Aang, Katara, Toph, and Sokka looked confused at that statement. "Al… wh.. what are you talking about?" Ed honestly asked.
"Do you remember when you said there was something you we're about to tell me?" Al questioned. Winry looked surprised, having heard something like this before.
"I think… I think I might know what it was."
'Don't say it Al! Don't say it!'Zuko thought desperately.
"Maybe, maybe my soul and memories are just artificial constructs you created."
Zuko winced at that. Ed's eyes went wide with shock; while Aang, Katara, Toph, and Sokka looked honestly surprised.
"What?" Aang breathed.
Al's armored body began to shake as he clenched his fist. "You, Winry, and Granny… you've been lying to me all along haven't you? And it's not like Zuko can vouch for us, considering we just met him! What do you have to say for yourself brother?!"
Ed slammed his fists on the table, silencing Al.
"Is that what you really think? Have you believed that all this time?" Ed grunted. Al gave a slight shock as Zuko and Aang looked to Ed with concern. "So are you finished? Or is there more you wanted to say?"
Al just remained silent.
"Okay then." Ed sighed as he set his table aside and began to walk out.
"Ed?" Aang questioned.
Zuko tried to walk up to Ed but stopped when he realized he couldn't really say anything.
"Metal Butt?" Toph asked as Ed walked by.
"Don't go." Winry said as Ed walked into the hallway. "Ed!"
Winry then slowly turned to Al. "Al… you… MORON!"
*BANG*
Everyone (even Zuko) was extremely surprised after Winry banged Al's armored head with a wrench.
"Where did that come from?!" Al questioned.
Winry took several deep angry breaths before tears started to form in her eyes. Al suddenly felt extremely guilty.
"Uh… Winry."
"You idiot!" Winry yelled before bashing his head again. "You have no idea how Ed feels! Do you want to know what he was so afraid to talk to you about? He want's to know if you blame him for what happened to your body Al!"
FLASHBACK
Ed was on a hospital bed, about to be prepared for Automail surgery. He's rambling on about Al's new armored body. With Winry and Granny by his side.
"It's all my fault!" Ed began "Al lost his body and its all my fault! He can't eat anymore, he can't sleep, he can't feel cold or warmth. He's my little brother and I'm supposed to protect him and I did this." He clenched his blanket with his only arm. "How can he ever forgive me?!"
Winry looked down with sympathy on her face.
"Al isn't the kind of boy who would resent you for this." Granny consoled. "Just ask him and I'm sure you'll see."
"No, I'm…I'm too afraid. I'm too scared of what he'll say." Ed said as a tear flowed down his face.
END FLASHBACK
Winry continued to bang her wrench on Al's armor as she cried. Zuko looked down in shame, Katara had one hand over her mouth with tears starting to fall, Aang and Sokka looked with sympathy on their faces along with Hughes, Ross, and Brosh. Toph tried to look unaffected, but she was shaking a bit and a small tear rolled down form one of her dull eyes.
"And then… you idiot. You said that." Winry cried. "Who would ever do something like that? Who would be prepared to risk his own life, to forget his big brother." She stopped banging her wrench. "Don't you get it, the only family you two have left, is each other."
Al sighed as realization set into his mind.
Winry looked at him with frustration on her face as she whipped the tears from her eyes. "Now. Go find your brother." Al got up. "Start running!"
"Right." Al said as he ran down the hall after Ed.
"Okay. When did this come up?" Aang asked.
Zuko sighed. "Back at the Fifth Laboratory, Zuko and I fought a serial killer who was also a disembodied soul in a suit of armor. He tossed around the idea that Al was really a puppet created by Ed."
"You knew?!" Winry angrily asked him.
"Yeah."
"Did you try and say anything to him?" Katara asked.
"Yeah I did, I tried to convince him. But he needed to hear it from the one person who could actually verify it." Zuko explained.
They all looked down the hall.
"Those two really have gone through Hell." Toph observed.
Zuko began walking down the hall. "I'm gonna find them."
"Hang on, I'm coming with you." Aang said as he got up and followed Zuko.
"Wait for me!" Sokka said as he followed them; with Katara, Toph, Hughes, Winry, Ross, and Brosh behind them.
Rooftop
Ed was leaning on the railing outside, looking out to the city below. Al then walked onto the roof. After a few seconds of silence, Al broke it.
"Br…."
"You know something Al?" Ed interrupted. "We haven't had a good fight in a while. I'm starting to get flabby." Ed took of his sandals. He turned around and charged at Al, beginning their 'sparing session'.
Al was blocking Ed's attacks. "Hold on brother! Stop! Your wounds haven't healed enough for this!"
Ed jumped back and grabbed a blanket from a laundry line and tossed it onto Al, blinding him, allowing Ed to get a solid kick in and knock Al down.
"I beat you." Ed told him. "First time I ever won."
Ed then lied down, his head near Al's head. "It wasn't a fair fight brother." Al pouted.
"Don't give me that, a win is a win and you know it Al." Ed replied. "We've always fought like this, ever since we we're really little." Al nodded in agreement. "Now that I think about it, we've fought over some really stupid things haven't we?"
"Definitely." Al agreed. "Like who would get the top and bottom bunks."
"Yeah." Ed recalled.
"We fought over candy a lot too, huh?" Al remembered.
"And that toy, remember?" Ed asked
"I won that one." Al replied. "And when we fought in the rain river too."
"Aw yeah, you shoved me into the water." Ed recalled.
"And that fight we had during our training?"
"Teacher said we we're being too loud so she beat us up herself." Ed laughed. "Why don't we call that one a draw?"
"We even fought over which one of us would marry Winry someday."
"What?" Ed questioned. "I don't remember that one."
"I won that, but she shot me down."
"Oh, did she?" Ed then got serious. "You're telling me all those memories are lies?"
"Sorry."
"And your determination to be whole again, to get your body back, no matter what; that's a lie to?"
"No. It's not a lie."
"That's right. We're in this all the way. Don't forget that, we're gonna keep pushing forward. We'll make ourselves stronger, faster, and better till we get our bodies back." Ed said as he raised his fist.
"And the milk?" Al asked with his voice slightly humorous.
"Milk?! Fine, I'll drink a little." They both laughed.
They both fist bumped, and soon, a third metal fist joined them. "We're all in this together." Zuko told them.
"Sorry Zuko." Al apologized.
"Forget it, don't worry." Zuko dismissed.
"Wait, you knew about this?" Ed questioned as Zuko helped him up.
"Yeah, sorry. I tried to tell him, but I think he just needed to hear it form you, little brother." Zuko explained.
"Who you calling little?" Ed joked with a smile.
"And we got your back in this too." Aang said as he stepped onto the roof, with Katara, Sokka and Toph behind him.
"Guess we're not gonna be shaking you guys anytime soon." Ed joked.
"Nope." Sokka confirmed.
"We're with you guys all the way." Toph added.
"We're all family. That means we all stick together." Katara said as she and Aang put their hands in the center, Zuko followed with his black Automail hand, Ed with his own Automail hand, Sokka followed soon after, then Alphonse, and finally Toph.
"I don't know about you guys, but we are the weirdest family I have ever seen." Toph stated, earning laughs from everyone.
The touching scene was being observed by Winry and Hughes by the doorway.
"Mr. Hughes?" Winry began. "Maybe you don't have to hear something out loud but it sure is helpful sometimes." She said with a smile.
"I guess it is." Hughes agreed with his own smile.
Azula stood in a white space, there was nothing around her.
"What is this? Where am I?" She questioned as she looked around. She then heard what appears to be a giggle; correction, two giggles.
"Hm, who's there?" She demanded as she looked into the distance and saw two figures running towards her. "You two, who are you?"
They didn't answer, before Azula could say anything else she looked to the two and was completely caught off guard as she soon recognized them.
It was Zuko, and it was also herself. Both we're very little, Zuko looked like he was three and the other Azula looked like she was one. Both little Zuko and little Azula we're chasing each other through the white space.
Azula tried to slowly approached the two, but they ran through her as if she was never there, which surprised her completely. She looked behind and saw the two wrestle with each other.
"Zuko! Azula!" A female voice called, both little ones looked up in delight at the sight of the voice, and Azula was shocked even further at the source of the voice.
"Mommy!" Both little Zuko and little Azula called. They ran to Ursa and hugged her legs. She laughed as she picked up both and started walking away.
"Mother… Mother!" Azula called out, but she apparently didn't hear her. Azula tried to run out to her but they all vanished before her eyes.
Azula feel down to her knees. "No! Don't go! DON'T LEAVE ME!" She fell down and let tears fall from her eyes. She looked to the ground and saw a shadow loom over her, she slowly turned around and was surprised at the sight of a giant grey gate with writing on it that she didn't recognize.
The large gate slowly opened leaving a black space inside, Azula looked confused at first but found herself startled as a giant eye opened up inside the space. A series of black tentacles quickly came out of the gate and rushed towards Azula.
Azula tried to run away from them, but a tentacle wrapped around both her ankles, tying them together and causing her to trip. She looked back and found herself being dragged in. She tried desperately to crawl on the ground, but more black tentacles wrapped around her wrists and pulled them behind her back. Two more tentacles wrapped around her upper body, biding her arms to her body. She tried to scream but a tentacle wrapped around mouth to keep her from doing so.
Azula felt her bound and gagged body being lifted into the air by the tentacles that kept her tied up. She looked back and felt herself being pulled towards the giant eye.
"Mmmpphh! MMMPHH! MMMPHHH!" She screamed as she was slowly being pulled in. She wiggled around but it was useless. She found herself behind the gate and it slowly began to close, the last thing she saw was a blank white being with only a smile on his face.
"MMMMMPPPHHHH!" The door closed completely.
Azula was startled with a slight shriek. She took a moment to catch her breath as she was sweating profusely. She placed a hand on her chest to feel her heart racing and it slowly died down.
"It was a dream?"
"Ah! You're awake I see."
Azula turned to an elderly man with brown skin and white hair and a beard, with a boy who also had brown skin, white hair, and red eyes.
Azula then took a moment to observe herself and her surroundings. She looked down to see her right arm bandaged up and most of her clothes we're off save for a loose gown, her hair was also completely loose. She was on a mat and looked to see a blanket was once covering her. She was in what appeared to be a small rundown tent.
"Where am I?" She asked.
"You're in the slums of course." The elderly man answered.
"'Slums'?" Azula questioned. "How did I get here? Am I your prisoner?"
"Oh no, my dear." The elderly man replied. "More like my patient."
"We brought you here." The boy added. "We found you and this other guy here, you we're both hurt pretty bad."
Azula looked next to her and found a man who also a brown skin lying on a mat with a blanket covering him. But what she found most curious was the cross-shaped scar on his forehead. She looked and saw the man was unconscious, or asleep.
The man's eyes suddenly opened, as if he had awakened from a nightmare.
"Hey, you're awake too." The boy observed with a smile.
"Where am I?" The man asked.
"As I just told this girl here, in the slums outside of East City. You're both among friends." The elderly man answered.
"Who are you? You old man." The scarred-man questioned.
"Why I'm a man of Ishvala, just as you are son. There's no need to worry, I won't sell out one of my own." The elder responded.
The scared-man slowly turned to Azula. "You're not Ishvalan. Who are you?"
"Let's just say I'm from a far away place." Azula answered. "I'm looking for some people, I just woke up here to." She winced as her bandaged arm hurt and she held it, the boy then helped and held it too.
The scarred-man turned back to the old man. "Are we the only ones here? Are there any other Ishvalan survivors?"
"There are." The old man answered. "A run-down slum such as this may bare no resemblance to our ancestral home, but you know what they say, the world is God's bosom, our great loving god Ishvala. Am I right?" He then gave a joking laugh.
"Pardon me, but I'm not a religious person." Azula said.
"That's quite alright my dear." The old man assured.
The scarred-man tried to get up but struggled.
"You can't, you're not ready." The boy told him with worry. "We found you and this lady here both floating near the sewers, you we're both hurt pretty badly."
"Well I suppose thanks are in order then." Azula guessed.
"Boy…" The scarred-man began. "My right arm. Did I loose it, or is it still there with me."
"Yeah it's still there mister, it should be fine." The boy answered as he removed the blanket revealing the right arm decorated with a series of unusual tattoos.
"Well, that's a very interesting tattoo you have." Azula observed.
"Yes. It's important to me. A precious gift, from my family."
Those last words caused Azula's eyes to widen slightly. She turned away from the three and looked in a tub of water at her reflection.
"Family…" She whispered to herself.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait... Anixity is horrible to deal with and it made me very sick for a while, but I'm getting better along with script writing and artwork for my game. Thanks for being patient and keep on reading!~