Chapter Three ~ Three Musketeers
Ed fell silent as Alphonse fell from the tree. He landed with a thump. Both boys knew it was dangerous to climb the high trees. Yet, they challenged each other on who could climb the highest. Alphonse broke the silence with a child-like laugh. "That was awesome! Try to beat that, Ed!"
Ed crossed his arms and smiled. "Challenge accepted, brother!"
He got a running start before jumping on the trunk and stretching out his arms. He started reaching for the higher and higher branches. Al had gotten up and dusted himself off. He covered his eyes from the sun and watched in awe as Ed reached Al's previous spot.
Al tried not to pout as Ed reached a few feet and a branch higher than Al's previous spot. Ed slipped as he tried for one more branch, his fall softened by the coalition of branches directly below him.
"Dang, brother! You make it hard to win, you know." Alphonse speculated as he imagined the path he would take next.
Ed lifted a small twig out of his hair. "Good luck, Al!" Al smiled back, but Ed added something to it. "You'll be needing it!" Ed gave his signature grin, causing Al to get more motivation. He had a foot on the trunk and a hand reaching for a branch when he heard his mom's footsteps.
"Mom?" Al asked right before letting go of the tree and ducking to see. His mom was walking down the street with a suitcase. She was heading for the train station. Al was in awe. "We must be going on a trip! Let's go find Dad and hurry!" Al was already running to the house when Ed replied with a 'sure'.
Ed had noticed Mom's face. Solemn. It was never like that. Even when he had fallen and gotten a huge gash in his leg and it didn't look good. She kept wearing her smile. But now... Something was happening.
Ed realized the urgency of their situation and started running faster than he ever had before. He was right behind Al the second he
reached the doorway. Hohenheim was on the floor, passed out. "Daddy!" Al called as he ran to his side and fell to his knees.
Ed felt fear and anxiety grip him. He stood there like an idiot. "U-uh...I-I... We... Dad..." Ed couldn't get a thought together. Al was a step ahead anyways.
"I'll get Pin and Winry! Stay with Dad, brother!" Al was already halfway to Winry's place when Ed snapped out of his daze. Tears rimmed his eyes as he saw Hohenheim on the ground again.
"Dad... don't leave us!" Ed cried out to the heavens, his hands out in despair. He quickly put his head down into his hands and let himself cry scared tears. "DADDY!"
Alphonse, Winry, and Pinako were quickly through the doorway and by Hohenheim's side. Pinako was ordering Alphonse to do this and that. Winry was helping, using all the information her parents taught her. Her parents were doctors, after all.
After a few minutes, Pinako asked for space. Winry was the first and fastest to get up. She hurried to Ed and hugged him. "It's okay, Edward." He just cried on her shoulder. He looked so innocent and helpless then.
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Hohenheim was holding an ice pack to his forehead. "Oh..." he grumbled. Pinako just shushed him and rubbed his back.
"You'll be okay, Big One."
Ed sniffled at that last comment. Mom had always called him Little One. Where was she? Would he ever be called that again? "Mom..." he mumbled in a choking voice.
Winry rubbed his back. "It's okay, Ed. It's okay." She gave him a comforting smile, sure that Mom would come back in the morning.
Alphonse tried to hide his jealousy as he stared at Winry. She was giving Ed a lot of attention. Alphonse was being ignored because he was heroic.
Ed hugged Winry. "Thanks, Big Sis." Winry looked surprised for a milisecond, then gave him a warm embrace in return.
Hohenheim frowned. "Is Trisha still around?"
Pinako looked at the floor. That was a clear enough answer for Hohenheim. "I see..." He looked at the boys' faces and thought a bit.
"Well, that makes us the Three Musketeers."
"You are giving up so soon?" Pinako couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.
"Trisha told me she wanted to leave. I could not stop her. She's stubborn, as you and I know well." He looked at his shoes and smiled, remembering how stubborn Trisha really was.
Ed and Al looked at Hohenheim at the same time. "She's not coming back?" They didn't miss a beat. The two brothers were great at speaking in unison.
Hohenheim's eyes were full of sorrow. "I'm sorry boys." He didn't say a word more, and retreated to his room.