I stared up at the dark ceiling, unable to sleep.

It was around this time when I felt the worst. Insomnia was common for me, even when all I wanted was to sleep the days away.

I let out a breathy sigh, frowning. I pulled my blankets a bit more, seeking solace in the squishiness of my bed. I closed my eyes, relaxing and attempting to finally fall asleep.

"Why did you return?" A voice broke the silence.

My eyes widened, and I quickly sprung up, my hand darting under my pillow to grab the knife I always kept there. I reached over and turned on the light, my knife held in the direction that the voice had come from.

"It's alright," the figure said, stepping into the light. "I'm not going to hurt you."

It was a girl. And, even more surprisingly, she looked a lot like I did when I was younger. Wavy brown hair cascaded down her back, framing her slightly chubby, yet pretty face. Her body was a bit thicker, but more so in a curvy way. The only thing that was different was her eyes. Her eyes were a light, shocking green, like the grass in the spring. She seemed young, younger than me, but still probably a teenager.

I gripped my knife tightly, my eyes narrowing. Even if she didn't seem hostile, I didn't want to risk it. I mean, her approach wasn't exactly subtle.

"But I would like to know why you came back." She said, and I could tell there was a slight hint of confusion laced in her voice.

Her question was odd. I tilted my head, furrowing my eyebrows as if to ask what she meant. She sighed.

"You could at least respond," She said, crossing her arms. "I'm the one who sent you to Amestris, after all."

I choked, staring at her in utter shock. This can't be right... This girl can't be Colette! The hand holding my knife quivered. Thoughts bounced violently around in my head, and it was just all too much to take in.

I opened my mouth to yell something, but nothing came out other than a strangled gasp.

"You... Can't speak?" She asked, surprised. Even though I was still trying to stop hyperventilating, I dignified her with a weak nod. She clicked her tongue at me, shoving a hand in a pocket of her black jeans, and pulled out a small vial. "Here." She threw it to me, and I let my knife drop to catch it.

I glanced down at the vial, my bewilderment replaced with horror. My eyes were as wide as saucers, and the color in my face drained.

There, sitting in my hands, was a philosopher stone.

There, sitting in my hands, was the very thing that could end my misery.

I was torn between throwing it back to Colette, or keeping it to myself. My hands shook as I stared at that one vial, that one vial that change everything.

But I threw it back. Colette caught the vial, and looked at me, confused. I stared back at her, speechless at my own actions.

"You know what this is, right?" Colette asked, and I gave her the slightest nod.

My hands tangled themselves in my hair, and my eyes were wide, tormented. I threw the philosopher stone back... Because I was afraid.

I was afraid to go back to Amestris.

I could change my life so easily, and I could finally go back. But I had gotten so used to all this hurting, to this unfeeling stupor, that I was afraid of changing. I was scared that if I went back, they might not accept me. They might turn me away, and I'd hit rock bottom again when I was just starting to make progress.

"Why are you hesitating?" Colette asked me, confused at why I threw the stone away. I shook my head and looked down. "What happened in Amestris?" I looked up at Colette, tears welling in my eyes. I reached over and grabbed a notebook on my bedside table, a pen from the drawer in the bedside table, and began to write.

To, for the first time, explain what happened.

"That... Must've been hard." Colette mumbled after reading my story. She looked at me, "You only met Luka in the end?" I glanced back at her, my tilting my head in confusion. She sighed. "I might as well tell my own story."

"It all started when I was sent out to Ishval," Colette said, a sad look coming in her eyes. "Other than Kimblee, I wrought the most destruction. I killed innocent people who could only stare up at me with blank, lifeless eyes. But, I had a secret that no one knew... You probably know what I'm talking about, because that Alphonse kid is the same way. My original body was weak, and I was a very sick child. My father had killed someone else so he could bind my soul to their body, but soon learned that it wasn't a permanent fix. From there on, if I didn't want to die, I had to take things from I had gone to Ishval, I had an armor body, but it was giving out on me... So I had to take one of the dead bodies lying in the rubble."

Colette looked down, her lips pressed in a tight line. "So I took this body... The body of a young Amestrian girl. But the girl had a younger brother, a brother who had been left alone to run away, crying after his family. That brother... was Luka." My eyes widened, and I looked down only to see I was leaning forward, absorbed in her story. Colette continued, "It didn't take long before he found me. He knew I wasn't his sister, because she had died right in front of him. He soon learned the truth, and he told me something that stuck with me. 'This time you're wasting hurting others,' he said, 'That time's not yours, it's the time my sister gave you.' And for some reason," Colette's voice became distressed, "I couldn't forget those words! Why did those words mean so much? But I realized that this heart," Colette put her hand on her chest, "Wasn't mine, but his sisters'. And it had beat solely for him, to protect her little brother."

Colette let out a soft breath. "That's where you come in. I had come to this world to seek change, to use the time I had left wisely. But somewhere in my heart, I couldn't help but remember that little kid, this girl's brother." She looked down, "I so I sought out someone to replace his sister, and that's when I found you." Her gaze met mine, "You looked so similar, and from what I saw, you were bright. But, I guess it just didn't turn out the way I expected."

My legs folded under me, and I sat down, staring at her in shock. My whole mission in the first place... Was to meet Luka? I choked, holding a hand over my mouth. Colette, seeing my reaction, smiled sadly.

"But I've come this time to ask you a favor," Colette said, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, taking my hands in hers. "I'm dying, Lynette. This body is rejecting me... And I'm finally ready to let go. I'm tired of clinging onto life using time that isn't mine. So I would like to ask you to return his sisters' body back to him." Her green eyes were tired, and it seemed like the life was fading out of them with every second. "Please, I know I've lived a life that doesn't deserve any favors, but for Luka, please give his sister back to him." Not knowing what else to say, I nodded, and Colette smiled.

"Thank you..." Her voice slowed, "Now, I can rest... in... peace..." Her eyes closed, and she collapsed onto my bed, a slight smile gracing her color drained from her skin, and it was obvious that she had passed. This whole time, I thought, she had been just clinging on, waiting until I agreed to take her back.

I looked down at Colette's body, forgetting about my own fear and pursing my lips. Let's do this.

So, following the circles on my hands, I got down my big whiteboard from my wall (for writing purposes) and I laid it on the floor, taking a dry erase marker and copying the human transmutation circle down, the only thoughts going through my head were that my parents would murder me if they found a dead body in my room, and that I needed to return his sister to Luka.

I lifted up Colette's body, and gently set her down across the transmutation circle, before taking the vial with the philosopher stone out of her cold hands. I winced, a little freaked out, but decided to grab a few things before I took a deep breath and clapped my hands, before placing them down on the human transmutation circle.

I squinted against the light, sitting up and shaking some sense into my head. When my eyes adjusted, I looked around, taking in the familiar place, before my eyes landed on a white figure that grinned at me.

"You came back." It said.

Long time no see, my world domination buddy, I thought, giving it a small smile. I knew Truth could hear my thoughts, so I spoke through my mind.

"So, are you going to reclaim your voice?" Truth asked, "Or will you just do what was asked of you?" I shook my head.

I will not take back my voice... yet. My smile turned sad, I don't want to disappoint him because I took the easy way out. Truth's grin widened.

"So, you're thinking of staying?" It said, and I shrugged, blushing slightly.

If he let's me, I thought, and I finally got up, facing Truth confidently.

"So be it," Truth said, "But I'll be waiting for the day you return for your voice." I nodded.

I'll be back, I promised, my lips curving up a little more. Don't miss me too much, Truth. Truth chuckled at my words, and I heard the Gate open behind me.

And so, I bid Truth farewell, waving as the little black hands reached out to tug me into the Gate.

I silently groaned, turning over to make myself a bit more comfortable, but all I ended up accomplishing was bumping my head against stone. Hissing through my teeth, I got up and rubbed the bump forming on my head, looking at what I had hit it against. A brick wall... My eyes widened, and I glanced around, waking up fast.

My heart pounded in my chest as I gazed out into the street from the alleyway I sat at, looking out at the familiar shops.

I'm home.

GASP I actually had a plan for some of my OCs! And it took a whole damn series before I could explain the workings behind the whole thing.

But OH YEAH Lynette's back! But she didn't choose to get her voice back, since she knew Ed would've had something to say about that.

Eh, I don't have much to add... But, you guys'll have to wait and see what happens! Haha, I know I suck for making cliffhangers like this!

Yup, so that's that.

My lovely readers, please review~!

Thanks!