A/N: Could resist a hint of dystopia.
98. I'm home
Ed was dreaming again and he knew it, but that didn't make it any easier to see what was in front of him. The sky was dismal, and something told him it was a normal occurrence. There was snow on the ground, but the chill in the air had nothing to do with the temperature.
As he walked along the street, he recognized the streets of Rush Valley, and he was heading toward Garfiel's. He sped up… or watched himself speed up, he wasn't really sure if he was in the moment or looking down on it. The place was empty, though, when he got there. Garfiel sat outside, staring grumpily into the distance.
Ed walked farther down the street that turned into the hillside. He'd gathered from the sparse population that he and Al had failed, and the cold horror washed over him in a wave of disbelief. He hadn't seen Al, and was avoiding the answer he knew would be waiting for him. He walked over to the hill and found himself in Risembool's graveyard, right in front of his mother's grave. He looked down, and the flowers in his hand fell to the ground in ashes.
Here lies Winry Rockbell. He couldn't save her.
"I'm home," he said.
He flew up out of the dream in a cold sweat, his left hand on his heaving chest. His head whipped to his side, where Winry was stirring in her sleep. Her eyes cracked open and she squinted up at him.
"Wha're you doin'?" she slurred.
Ed practically dove into her chest and crushed her against him. "Now I'm home," he said, his voice muffled by her body.
Winry snorted and wrapped her arms around her alchemist, the rhythm of her breathing lulling him back to sleep.