Here's the next chapter! I just want to say thanks to all those people who favorited, story alerted, and/or reviewed my story! It really motivates me more! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Previously:

Adonai would never touch his loved ones. History would not repeat itself, now that Ed had figured out Adonai's secret.

The hunted had become the hunter. It was definitely time to kick some ass.


The Promises

Ed sat patiently at the kitchen table, his right arm sprawled across it. He seemed oblivious to the murmurs around him, the looks that he received. He didn't even flinch when Winry disconnected the automail. His mind was wandering much farther than the confinements of Hughes's house. Ed was stuck somewhere between memories of Germany and his new discoveries about Adonai. Only Al and Mustang weren't surprised at this sudden change of mood. They've seen Ed so contemplative before – almost like he was daydreaming. Winry, on the other hand, worried that his unusual stillness was a result of delving into his terrible past and was silently berating herself for forcing him to speak, but she didn't talk and concentrated on her task. It seemed urgent that she fixed Ed's arm now, and the nerve ports had somehow been damaged. There were nicks and breaks she had to fix too. She grinned, relishing the challenge. It was time to put all the skills she learned in the last five years to the test.

Al shook his head as he watched Winry work ferociously. That woman and her obsession with mechanics were beyond him, but he truly enjoyed watching her do something she loved. It gave her some sort of warm glow and it melted his heart even further. He smiled when he didn't miss the side look from the girl. Thanks to Ed, he maybe, just maybe, had a chance to win Winry's heart back. At that thought, his grin disappeared. How could he have been such an idiot to be so hot-headed? He probably hurt his brother more than Ed hurt Winry, and he would never forgive himself for it. Not after what he heard…It wasn't pity that he felt – he knew better than anyone else how Ed felt about pity – but more of regret that he couldn't be there for his older brother when it truly mattered.

Al looked over towards the doorway where the four adults were quietly chattering. Al couldn't hear what they were saying, but he knew they were talking about Ed and their next course of action. Whatever it was, it was pretty serious, and he knew that somewhere or another, Ed would not like it.

Hughes glanced at Ed a moment before he resumed talking, "No matter how much you cover him, Roy, Ed's new skills are going to be noticed by the Fuhrer. Sooner or later, he will become a dog of the military – an assassin used for the Fuhrer's own personal reasons. There's nothing we can do about it, unless he quits the military, which I highly doubt Fuhrer Hakuro would allow."

"Boss will never stand for that. He would never willingly go back to being an assassin. In Germany, he didn't have anyone that could pull him out of his slump, but here, he has all of us. No one will allow the Boss to become a murderer, no matter if he chooses to or not," said Havoc, his unlit cigarette in his mouth. Then he sighed, "He's only twenty-one years old and he has seen more horrors in this world than all of us. I really can't believe that he's still with us…Honestly, if it was me, I wouldn't be able to go on."

"Ed is strong," explained Riza, "He has always had a reason to keep pushing forward, no matter how difficult his path was. He has risked so much to come back to us – it's our turn to keep him safe. General, what are we going to do about Adonai?"

"Adonai is not our fight," Roy responded, his face hard.

"Roy, how could you say that! Don't you care about him at all?" demanded Maes.

"I'm not saying we just leave him to his own devices, Maes. That's just stupid – Ed's going to blow up Central along with Adonai if we just let him be. But, Adonai is Ed's mission. We can't interfere. However, we can get rid of all the obstacles in his way. Is there any way we can take a look at these chimeras that Adonai has created before we battle them?"

Maes shook his head, "Not unless we send a scout, and I'm hesitant on doing so when we don't know how strong they are."

"I'll go," said Havoc. "I want to do something for Boss."

"No. You don't know any alchemy, which means you have less of a chance than Riza. And, we don't know if Adonai is there with them. If you go, I have no guarantees that you will come back alive. We won't get any information, and we'd lose an important comrade. I'm not risking it," Mustang said.

The adults heard a quiet hiss from the kitchen area and they all swung their heads towards Ed, whose eyes were closed and his teeth gritted together in pain. It certainly had been way too long since he had his automail reconnected. The wave of fiery pain was almost unmanageable, and Ed could feel his entire body spasm as the agony spread through his body.

As the aching ebbed away, Ed opened his golden orbs, panting slightly as he made eye contact with Roy who had concern written all over his face. Just looking at the dark-haired handsome man made Ed almost forget about the soreness that was slowly creeping up his arm.

"Are you alright, Ed?" asked Mustang, coming into the light.

Ed nodded, "I'll be fine in a few minutes. By the way, you don't have to worry about the chimeras. They won't be strong, and chances are, they are animal chimeras, not human."

"You could hear us?" gaped Maes.

"Germany," came the curt reply. "I had to train in all aspects to keep alive."

Maes's mouth snapped closed for once, and Ed grinned, "If that is all that takes to make you shut up, I'm definitely going to use that against you the next time you start babbling about Elysia."

"What? Elysia is so cute though! Why don't you want to hear about her?!" demanded Hughes.

Ed's face grew hard and somber, "After Germany, nothing really is that cute."

Hughes found himself silenced once more and Ed broke into another tooth-breaking smile, laughing. "Yes! I win!"

Roy chuckled, "I envy you, Ed. You can actually make him speechless."

"Brother, why did you say that about the chimeras? How do you know if you haven't seen them?" Al asked, interrupting the light mood. As much as he enjoyed seeing and hearing hi brother laugh, time was running short, and he wanted to get to the bottom of everything quickly. If panic spread, Ed would be the first one to jump into the fray and destroy everything if it meant protecting people. Al couldn't bear his brother leaving him again.

"Adonai's powers are growing weaker. I think his strength is tied with the Truth and it mentioned that it did not have enough power to save Amestris anymore. When I passed through the Gate, I saw that near the bottom of its design, there was a circle where a name was inscribed."

"Let me guess, it was 'Adonai'."

"Right you are, Havoc. Now, if Adonai was truly a part of the Gate, that means that the Gate is currently incomplete. Incomplete entities cannot survive, and that includes the Gate as well. But if Adonai broke off from it, that means he is not complete as well. Both are growing weaker as time goes by, which means one thing: Adonai is searching for a way to live. I can only guess that Adonai is going around killing higher-ranked alchemists to find someone who is capable of taking over his position in the Gate. Equivalent exchange – a life for his life."

"And the only one strong enough is…" Roy's voice trailed off.

"Me," finished Ed, his face unreadable.

"So the chimeras are just to draw you out and wear you down so you would be weaker."

"Yes, and no. The chimeras are to distract all of you. Adonai isn't stupid. He knows I will have backup. If I don't manage to succeed, I will still injury him and weaken him tremendously, and then you or Al could finish my mission for me."

"So what are you going to do?" Riza questioned, her arms folded across her chest, her lips pressed in a thin line. She did not like where this was going. Ed was like her son – she hadn't seen him for five years, and now he was battling for his life. It just didn't settle well with her. "You're not planning to shoulder all the burdens once again?"

Ed smiled gently, "I'll fight alongside with all of you. We'll get past the chimeras and drag Adonai out. He won't stand a chance against all of us, but I'll have to get the last shot in. I need to make this clear – we cannot kill Adonai. If he dies, the Gate dies, and alchemy dies. Though it would probably be better off for the world if alchemy ceases to exist, there will still be so many more people will suffer if it disappears, and we can't do that to the thousands of people whose lives are centered around the military. I will bring Adonai back to the Gate and let the Truth deal with him. Then, we're free to live our lives."

"You won't go crazy and run off on your own?" Roy pushed, trying to see if Ed meant what he said. "You have a history of that, you know."

"And look where it landed me. Five years in Germany doing the Gate knows what. You were right, Roy. Now isn't the time to act strong and show off. This situation doesn't just involve me anymore. Adonai was right to assume me as a threat, not because I'm the person sent after him, but because I have all of you to back me up. See, here's what we'll do. Roy and I will take the front lines facing the chimeras, along with all the other alchemists. Hawkeye, Havoc, and Hughes, all of you will be right behind us, covering what we cannot cover. I'll assume the soldiers will be backing you up."

"Where will I be, brother?"

Ed swung around and glance at his brother. They could see him debating with himself where he should place his brother in this scheme.

"Al, how often have you used your alchemy these past years?"

"Very often."

"Any for battles or fights?"

At this, Al paused. Ed could see the beginning tell-tale signs of a lie.

"Al, if you haven't fought very often, I can't let you stay in the frontlines. It'll be too dangerous."

"I can fight! Maybe not as well as you, but I can fight!"

"I'm not saying you can't fight, Al. I'm just saying you can't take the frontlines," said Ed. "You know medical alchemy and you at least still have the skills that we learned from Sensei. As long as you stay near Hawkeye and Havoc, I will agree to let you fight."

"Deal!" Al agreed hurriedly before his brother had a chance to change his mind.

"Havoc, if my brother even gets a scratch on his face, you are dead, and I will guarantee that," Ed warned, his golden eyes narrowing in seriousness.

Havoc chuckled nervously, "I will protect him with my life."

"Good. That's all I ask for. Hughes, when are we needed up front?"

Maes checked his watch, "In four hours, though we should be reporting in about half an hour."

"Well, what are we waiting for, then?" Ed said, standing up, "I think it's about time we put an end to Adonai's reign of terror."

Ed couldn't help but smile at Havoc's lone cheer and Roy's chuckle. This peace – this happiness of being surrounded by warmth and the people he loved – was going to last forever if he could help it. Adonai was going to regret ever deciding to mess with him.

It was obvious the people around the main hall in Central's headquarters were fidgety. State Alchemists and soldiers alike, no one was as calm and stoic as Ed. Not even Roy could mimic Ed's seemingly apathetic view to the world, but he could guess why Ed had chosen to act this way. In this manner, no one would truly notice his return – no one would question him. Perhaps he understood that he was in a dangerous position. Whatever it was, Roy sincerely hoped the Fuhrer wouldn't notice how strong Ed had become, because if he did, not even Roy could protect him.

Roy quietly approached Ed, leaning against the wall next to his lover. "What are you thinking, Ed?"

"This feels like a replay of Germany, right before we went to war with our own people," Ed answered softly, "See, all the higher officials, people like us, aren't even nervous. They know what they're up against. They know they're going to be massacring something. In this case, that something are chimeras – in Germany, they were unarmed civilians. Either or, lives will be sacrificed. It just doesn't sit well with me."

"What doesn't?"

"It's too easy, taking lives. It's just like extinguishing a candle light. One small blow to the core, and it's gone. I bet most men here have never even shot a gun since the Bradley affair. Can we really burden their souls with murder?"

"They made the same choice as you years ago – they chose to become a dog of the military. Sooner or later, they would have to take a life. No matter how much you want to prevent it, there's nothing you can do about it."

Ed just looked away, his weary eyes taking in the frightened faces surrounding him.

"Ed, what happened to your resolve an hour ago? You yourself said that the chimeras aren't strong. Why are you so withdrawn?"

Ed bit his bottom lip. "Something is wrong, something feels different. I don't know what it is, but there's a dread in my stomach that's spreading. I thought I had this all figured out. I thought I had Adonai figured out, but I can't help but feel like there's something up his sleeve that I missed."

"You don't have to worry. We have your back."

"It's not me I'm worried about. I'm invincible, remember?" Ed smiled sadly, "You just make sure you don't die. Make sure no one dies."

"We'll take care of ourselves, Ed. You just concentrate on Adonai," came Hughes's voice. Roy's head snapped up in surprise. He could feel annoyance spread over him. Why in the world did Hughes have to be so sneaky sometimes?

Ed raised his head slightly at Hughes. Maes was standing not too far from them, with Riza, Havoc, Falman, Breda, Fuery, and Al nearby.

"Are you all ready for battle?" Ed asked.

They all nodded.

"Keep an eye on me. The minute I come into contact with Adonai, spread out. Don't stay too close or you'll get hurt, but don't go too far. Adonai is strong. The last time I fought him, I didn't stand a chance. He's grown weaker, but I have too. It's going to be a hard fight for both of us, and I will need your help if I begin to falter."

Roy chuckled, unable to let the chance slide by, "That is if we can see you."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT YOU CAN'T SEE ME OVER A BULLET?!" Ed shouted, and instantly smacked himself on the head. "Fuck. So much for trying to stay unnoticed…"

Immediately, silence fell in the hall, and then murmurs. "Is that the Fullmetal with the Flame?"

"He's been gone for five years!"

"I thought he died…"

"What a relief!"

And then a voice they all froze to, "Fullmetal Alchemist, how kind of you to join us today. I didn't know you returned."

Ed, Roy, and company quickly snapped to attention, saluting as their eyes stared straight at the tall man with tan hair slicked back so that a few short bangs fell forward. His chiseled face uncovered by any mustaches or beards looked tired, but his brown eyes were still as sharp and shifty as ever.

"Fuhrer Hakuro, what brings you down here?" asked Mustang politely, his body unconsciously inching towards Ed. He didn't miss Ed's eyes suddenly narrowing. That was always a bad sign. After all, Ed had just figured out a part of what had been bothering him. He never liked the Fuhrer, and as the memories resurfaced, his dislike turned into quiet, simmering anger.

"We're preparing for battle, General Mustang. It would be disheartening if the leader of this country didn't personally come down to greet his men, am I right?" Hakuro answered, smiling sadly. Then he turned to Ed, "Colonel Elric, I wasn't aware of your return."

"Is that so? I could've sworn I had turned in my paperwork. It must be buried on your desk. No doubt you are a busy man, Fuhrer," responded Ed, his decorum surprising all those around him, even Hakuro himself. Hakuro had always known Ed was very outspoken, and though he disliked it, he couldn't push Ed's strong spirit down. Edward was a valuable chess piece, with both his military and his civilians. After all, Ed was a symbol of hope for all, and an extremely useful tool, especially since the leaders of other countries have started to turn their gaze upon him.

"It seems Xing was a good place for you to settle down in, Colonel, though I have no idea why you were sent so far away. You were needed quite a few times here."

"Well, I just couldn't help myself. There was so much to learn there, and the women!" Ed grinned, "You've heard the rumors, haven't you?"

Hakuro chuckled, "Definitely. How were they? Perhaps I should go some time, on a diplomatic mission, of course."

Mustang almost laughed at their conversation. He could definitely tell that Ed was thinking something along the lines of "What a lewd, perverted old man…" He had to give props to the young man for never letting a single emotion to get past his mask.

"Perhaps," shrugged Ed, "But we have a war on our hands. What are you orders, sir?"

"We wait until the chimeras arrive, and then we will send our men out to eliminate them – soldiers and alchemists alike."

"That wouldn't be wise, Fuhrer."

"Pardon me?" Hakuro's surprised tone suddenly sent another wave of stillness throughout the men.

"You may not be aware of this, but I have personally fought with Adonai a couple of days ago. I know better than anyone about his capabilities and his plans. The quickest way to settle this is to send all the State Alchemists to the frontlines and a few platoons of your best soldiers to cover them. We absolutely cannot let them get near the town. If Adonai sets his foot in Central, there's no telling how many civilian causalities we will have."

"Who is Adonai?" demanded Hakuro, his face turning redder with each second. He did not like the fact that he was being talked down to by someone younger than him or being clueless.

Ed shook his head, "You organized this entire thing without knowing the details?"

"Ed," warned Mustang quietly, "Don't push him."

"Adonai is that rogue alchemist that has been making a mess out of things. These chimeras are created by him, and he's using them as bait to weaken us," Ed continued, ignoring Mustang. Honestly, Hakuro was such an idiot! How in the world did he expect to protect the civilians' lives if he didn't know the entire story? How could he blindly send men to their possible deaths? Hakuro was so arrogant and naïve. Just because he survived the war against Bradley didn't mean that he had seen the worst of the world. He didn't see the sorrows of the aftermath – he was too caught up with his new position. Ed had never liked Hakuro – he had always believed that Mustang would've served much better as Fuhrer, but things never turned out the way he wanted. Maybe now, Ed could use the information he gathered from the Gate. Things he had never mentioned before, locked away in disbelief into the back of his mind – the complete and utter Truth about Fuhrer Hakuro.

"How do you know this? This is all inside information, isn't it? Have you betrayed Amestris, Edward Elric?" the Fuhrer thundered.

"Perhaps, but I don't think you should push this, Fuhrer."

Mustang instinctively reached out to slightly tug Ed's sleeve as another warning. His body was tensed, ready to jump into the fire to shield Ed, but he knew that the Fuhrer had already reached the limit of his patience. Ed was still so defiant and fearless in front of the most powerful man in the country. Even with the experiences from Germany, Edward Elric should not mess with the man who could destroy him with one command!

"Why the hell not, Edward Elric?!"

Ed leaned forward slightly, whispering into Hakuro's ear so that only he could hear what Ed had in store, "I know what you did to get to where you are now, Fuhrer, or should I call you Drachma's little rat?"

Hakuro froze and visibly paled, leaving Mustang and the people around to stare on in confusion.

"Perhaps we should take this to your room, Fuhrer," suggested Ed, smiling sweetly like a thorny rose.

Hakuro merely nodded once and stiffly walked away with Ed following him, whistling. He stopped for a second and winked at Roy, and continued moving forward.

It took another minute or so for sound to come back amongst the soldiers.

Roy just blinked a couple of times, then, "What the hell just happened?"

Ed shut the door behind him, his expressions unreadable. Hakuro was trembling in the corner of his dark office. Ed's golden eyes seemed to glow in the blackness, sending more shivers down his spine.

"Well, Fuhrer, let's get this out of the way, shall we? You aren't fit to be the leader of this country. You have been selling us out from the very start to Drachma, haven't you? What was the point? What did they offer you in exchange for the thousands of lives in Amestris? You are the most powerful and wealthiest man here, what could they possibly offer you that is better than this!?' hissed Ed. "Or was this the condition? You feed them gold every month to let them keep your position or they'll give away all your secrets and you lose everything?"

"I…How did you find out? The Drachma destroyed all evidence!" gasped Hakuro.

"I'm not your everyday alchemist, Fuhrer. Surely you already knew that?"

"Of course…how else could you have come back from the dead?"

Now it was Ed's turn to freeze. "What makes you think I died?"

Hakuro smirked, "My eyes aren't knotholes. You don't think I wouldn't notice your petty little lover crumble bit by bit every year? Or the fact that the Emperor of Xing never said that you arrived? I'm not stupid, Edward Elric. You were gone for good."

"And yet, I'm still here," shrugged Ed.

"Will you be for long? I can see the way Mustang is trying to cling to you. It's as if he knows you're going to disappear again. I wonder who will stop me from getting my revenge for this if you vanish from this world. I would love to see that man broken once more."

Ed couldn't help himself. He flung himself forward, grabbing the front of Hakuro's jacket in his fists, "What the fuck are you implying, you bastard?" he snarled.

"When you were gone, Mustang was all so easy to control – a true mutt of the military. He wasn't even a threat. I could've told him to fuck himself, and he would've done it."

Ed opened his mouth to shoot something back, but he decided against it at the last minute. He grinned coldly, sending shivers down Hakuro's spine. "You're right. I died. Five years ago, on October 3rd, I died. Do you want to know how I resurrected? Do you want to know why I came back to life? As an alchemist, surely you've heard of the Gate and the Truth?"

Hakuro nodded numbly. He didn't know why, but he was absolutely terrified of this young man in front of him. His instincts were telling him to run or he'd be killed. Since when was Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, a supporter of all forms of life, ugly or beautiful, capable of such murderous intent?

"I am the Truth's Death God. I was sent back to settle the scores for it, and that includes you. Do not underestimate me, Fuhrer. I can easily massacre everyone downstairs in a blink of an eye, including Mustang. My time away from Amestris has made me a skilled assassin, which is why I was chosen to carry out the Truth's duties. My heart has long ago died with my body, so do not think I won't hesitate to go through my own brother to get to you. Not to mention, the people of Amestris will lap up anything I say. I could smear your name with blood and infamy instantly. You do not want me as an enemy."

Ed felt sick to the stomach spouting such lies, but it was necessary. If anything, right now, he had to get Hakuro to fear him more than death. It was the only way he could get the Fuhrer to obey his commands.

"So, Fuhrer Hakuro, this is what you will do. The minute this battle this over – no, the second this battle is over – you will announce your resignation from your position. You will appoint General Roy Mustang to be your successor. Unlike you, this man has all the good intentions to rule this country. If it wasn't for you and your underhanded ways, he would've been Fuhrer after Bradley. He has worked so hard for this, and you threw it all away for the sake of money? You are a despicable piece of scum and you will obey me. If you do so without a fight, I will let you live your own life. Granted, I never want to see your face again, but you are free to go where you want, as long as it is far away from the military as possible. However, if I find that you double-cross me," Ed's eyes shone bright silver, "you will suffer the consequences. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes…" stuttered Hakuro.

"Good, I'm glad we've reached an agreement. Now, will you please start filling out the paperwork right now?" smiled Ed, "I'd like to go back below so we can win this war."

"Yes, s-sir!" Hakuro scrambled behind his desk and quickly drew out the necessary papers, scribbling all over it in haste.

Ed merely smiled. Germany did have some advantages after all…

Mustang was quietly slipping the coffee Hawkeye had brought him. Al and Hughes were in a deep conversation over something that Roy had lost track of a while ago. Hawkeye and the others were off somewhere, trying to gather information on why everything had come to a standstill. Roy had a feeling it had something to do with the Fuhrer missing for about an hour now. Ed was either doing something extremely bad, or doing something worse. He almost wanted to groan at that thought. Ed, despite his maturity now, was still a troublemaker, no matter where he went.

"Ed, you just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" he murmured to no one in particular.

"Actually, it's more like trouble follows me. There's a difference," came Ed's familiar voice, almost making Mustang jump out of his skin, but Mustang was dignified, so he merely spilled some of his coffee on the ground. Ed had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was now standing next to him, a giant grin on his face.

"Ed! Don't you do that again!" hissed Roy.

Ed laughed, his golden eyes glittering with amusement. "I didn't think I could surprise you, Roy."

"You can when you're a trained assassin!"

"Didn't you miss me?" purred Ed, getting abnormally close to Roy and lightly touching his cheek with his slender fingers.

Roy shivered at the contact. There were hundreds of men around him right now, but he didn't give a damn about what they thought. Fire was blooming in his chest and he leaned in closer to Ed, the lust spreading to his charcoal eyes. It seemed as long everything that had happened made him forget how much he wanted Ed. Granted, he had always been by Ed's side, laughing and enjoying their time together that Mustang just felt a need to always be near him. It was as necessary as breathing, and now, he had been given more oxygen than he could use. He was drowning in Ed's eyes.

"Damn right I did," Roy growled back. "I think I like it when you're aggressive like this, Ed."

"Well, let's just say I did a good deed today," smiled Ed, "You're in for a nice surprise after this battle is over."

"What surprise? I hope it's you."

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now, would it?"

"What were you doing with the Fuhrer?"

At this, Ed's face grew somber. "Remember how I told you that I knew some of the Truths of this world?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Hakuro isn't who he seems. He has been feeding the Drachma inside information about the government and paying monthly fees to them out of Central's vaults. It seemed like a good opportunity to set him straight."

Mustang could feel his blood boil at the thought of Hakuro screwing up this country more than Bradley. Hadn't this country suffered enough? "Did you? How did you do that?"

Ed's eyes turned silvery golden as he smiled dangerously, "Let's just say I have my ways."

Mustang ignored the chill down his spine, instead, concentrating on something that had been bothering him for a while, "Ed, why do your eyes do that?"

"Do what?"

"They have a slight tinge of silver to them at times. Why is that?"

He cocked his head, a thoughtful frown on his face, "I'm not too sure, actually. I never even knew they did that until Alphons pointed them out one day. He had a theory. He thought that somewhere or another in that training camp I was left in, I managed to maintain a fragment of my humanity and subconsciously created a warning of when I felt even a tiny sliver of murderous intent. Molecularly, my body is slightly different than most people, since I have decomposed and reconstructed so many times by the Gate, so my pupils, theoretically, can change pigments if I want them to. I haven't actually figured it out yet, but I don't think it'll matter too much. So beware, when my eyes turn completely silver, I'm out to kill."

Mustang chuckled nervously, "I'll keep that in mind. I'm glad I have a warning now though. When you were younger, you just exploded. I still have some scars from your past encounters, you know."

"As do I," Ed chuckled back.

"So, what do we do now, Ed? The men here are getting restless. What are the Fuhrer's orders?"

Ed smirked, "What do you think we'll do? We fight. We're about to head out now. Hakuro agreed to my plans."

"Did he peacefully agree?"

"Yes."

"Let me reword that: did he peacefully agree after being coerced?"

"Naw, that man is a coward. I merely gave him a few suggestions and told him what would happen if he didn't follow them, and he agreed to everything I said," Ed smiled.

"So, basically, you forced him, Brother," sighed Al, seemingly appearing out of nowhere for Mustang. Before he had realized it, everyone's eyes were on them, including the soldiers.

Mustang glanced down at the blonde in front of him. When had he moved away so slyly? They were still near each other, but Ed had increased the distance to the point where their relationship wouldn't have been discovered. How come Mustang never noticed it? He frowned. He didn't like this at all. Ed used to be easy to read, but now he was an enigma. One second, he could be sexually enticing and then the next, he could be cold, like now. Roy understood that it was for him, that he wouldn't be throwing everything he had worked for up until now for the sake of a relationship, but he couldn't help but feel a little lonely with the space between them.

"I didn't 'force' him, Al," Ed insisted, "He had to listen to me. Did I mention that I just got promoted?"

"Promotion?" frowned Hughes.

"Yeah, I'm in charge of this battle, so you guys have to listen to every one of my command," grinned Ed.

"Wait, that means you're ranked higher than me!" exclaimed Roy.

"Just for this battle. I don't like doing paperwork and shit like that, so I'm staying Colonel, since I apparently can't get demoted. Thanks to some bastard, I already have to do four times as much work as I did when I was Major."

"Seriously? You probably just got promoted to Major General, Boss, and you're refusing it?" asked Havoc incredulously.

Riza nodded, "It's probably for the best. I don't want to have to threaten to shoot two people at once to finish their paperwork. It takes more concentration so my aim might…slip…a little."

Both Mustang and Ed flinched at her words. Everyone burst out into laughter.

"Settle down, men!" yelled Ed, "Laugh at your commander and you'll regret it!" To enforce his words, he clapped his hands and transformed his automail into a blade, his golden eyes blazing with authority.

Instantly, the chuckles died away and Ed's loud voice echoed around the halls, "Now listen up, soldiers of Amestris! These creatures we will be fighting against are dangerous, but we are strong, we are proud, and we can defeat them! Alchemists up front and soldiers cover them. We are only strongest when we stand together and help each other. Look at the person next to you. He is your brother-in-arms and you are his. Protect each other, cover each other's backs, and we will prevail."

"However, I want to make it clear that the minute we get past the chimeras, do not move forward any more. Though these creatures are not powerful, the one who created him is. There will be no sacrifices in this battle – no loss of life on our side! Do you understand me? There will not be any skirmishes for glory. The reason for this battle is not for defeating a people or capturing a territory. It is to protect Amestris and our loved ones! Never forget that! Never forget what you are fighting for and live to see tomorrow! Are we agreed, men?!" Ed roared.

"Yes, sir!" came the thunderous reply.

"Let's show them what we're made of! Head out, men!"

Roy found himself cheering along with his fellow brothers and sisters, smiling as he saw the goofy expression on Ed's face, as if saying 'Did they really get it?' It looked as though Roy's heart was not the only one moved by the amazing blonde. The legends that had formulated over the five years that Ed had been gone were completely true – Edward Elric truly could move mountains with his strong heart.

The military stood at the outskirts of Central, watching carefully as the army of chimeras came into view. Ed glanced around. The men weren't nervous as he thought they would be. Instead, they had determined looks upon their faces, especially on those around him. He could see Al between Riza and Havoc near the middle of the crowd of soldiers. Armstrong, Roy, and several other alchemists that Ed didn't recognize stood in the front line with him. All of them, each and every single person standing with Ed were tall and proud. Ed smiled. There were good people in Amestris. They just had bad luck within their leaders. They deserved to change everything around and improve their lives. They shouldn't be wiped off the face of the world because some idiot decided that he wanted to survive apart from the Gate.

Ed gritted his teeth and turned his gaze back onto the chimeras. He could sense Adonai beyond these creatures. The end was coming near. Ed could almost taste it, along with a tightening within his chest again.

He tried swallowing the coughs, but a few escaped and Ed quickly swiped at his mouth before anyone could see the blood.

"Ed, are you alright?" Roy's voice wandered into his hazy mind.

"Yeah, I'm fine, or I will be, as soon as I get rid of that bastard," Ed growled.

"Don't push yourself, Ed. Remember what you said? No sacrifices, no causalities. That includes you."

Ed's golden eyes settled on Roy's face. Ed could read the fear and anxiety within his lover's eyes, and it wasn't for himself. Roy understood, out of everyone here, Ed had the smallest possibility of coming back alive and it was scaring the shit out of him.

Ed smiled gently, "Roy, everything will be fine. Trust me."

"It's not that I don't trust you, Ed. Everything just seems to be against you. You can't leave me alone again. I won't survive this time. I can't live without you."

At this, Ed's smile faded, replaced by a frown. Ed cupped Roy's face in his hands, "Roy Mustang, I want you to promise this to me. No matter what happens to me, whether I die or live, you will continue fighting for the men around us. Amestris deserves better than Bradley and Hakuro. They deserve you. Don't throw away their one chance at improving their lives by throwing away yours."

"But…"

"No excuses, Roy. You have a responsibility to them. Don't punish them for my stupidity."

"You're not stupid, Ed."

"Neither are you, so don't meaninglessly say you can't live without me. You have a purpose, more so than I do. Don't ever forget it, Roy, no matter what happens to me."

"You can't expect me to watch you disappear from my eyes again, can you?"

"If that is what happens, I do."

"Ed!"

"Promise me, Roy, that you'll continue living for the people of Amestris even if I fall today. In exchange, I'll promise I'll fight tooth and nail to get through this alive, for you. Equivalent exchange, right?"

Roy sighed, lightly brushing his hand against Ed's cheek, "I promise, but you better come out of this alive, or I'm going to drag you back from hell so I can beat the hell out of you."

Ed grinned, remembering the familiar words. "We have a deal, Roy Mustang."

Roy leaned forward, kissing Ed's lips, not caring who was staring at them. Ed returned the gesture, but it was short and sweet, nothing like the one passionate kiss they had shared what seemed like eons ago. They didn't feel the urgency or necessity. It wasn't goodbye to them. That passion was for tomorrow when they were freely together with no Adonai, no deals with the Truth, to bother them.

They slowly broke apart, their foreheads pressed against each other, their hands intertwined.

"Ed, I love you," Mustang whispered.

"I know," Ed smiled, pulling away.

"You're supposed to say it back, Ed."

"Oh, I will, after this battle that is," Ed grinned, his golden eyes shining in amusement.

Mustang sighed, "I guess I'm going to have to wait again, aren't I?"

"Yep!" Ed responded cheerfully.

Roy meant to answer back, but the battle was already upon them. He only saw a flash of the golden braid before Ed completely disappeared into the throng of chimeras.

Instantly, Roy's survival instincts kicked in and he began snapping his fingers. He could feel the rush of heat surround him, but he paid it no attention. It felt as though he was moving in a dream, their unspoken conversation echoing in his mind.

"Ed, I love you."

"I'll come back alive for you, Roy, to tell you that I love you too."

"I'll wait for you, and we'll live out our days bickering like an old couple."

A light chuckle, "Can't wait…"

No matter what happened, Roy would wait for the day where these unspoken promises would be fulfilled. For now, it was enough to just cling to them and fight to live until tomorrow and another day with the person most precious to him.

Okay, I definitely felt like this chapter was really sappy, especially Ed's "supposed" words of encouragement to the men and Roy's and Ed's "little moment". I know I promised some action, but it looked like I needed to clarify some things first. Definitely, though, next chapter, as much fighting as possible. ^^ I'm going to have fun with that, although, once again, it might take some time. Finals and everything...urgh. Not looking forward to it at all. .

Anyway, please review! So many people put my story on story alert and favorited my story, and I love that, but I really would like more reviews. I have to admit, I always feel really insecure about my stories and chapters and think that they are complete crap until someone says something about it. I don't mind if you say that it's horrible, that way I can improve things, but I love reviews that just make me feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside. :D

Thanks for reading chapter 8! Chapter 9 hopefully will be coming up soon!

~ Kanae Yuna ~