We Lost Our Light

by audaciousaudino

AU; What would happen if Hohenheim never left? Would Ed still like alchemy? Would he still join the military? Would Al stay home and take care of his family and fall in love with Winry? Will Royai happen? How will Hohenheim staying affect Lt. Colonel Hughes? Will he still have a kid, a family? Read to find out all this, and learn why its a good thing Hohenheim left. Many pairings.

5. The Promise

Chapter Four ~ The Promise

Ed played with his thumbs and ignored the breeze playing with his dangling feet. He was up the tree, sitting on a branch. His dad had apologized and left to his sanctuary. Is Mom coming back? Ed tried to think about it logically, but it just couldn't. It was almost as if his innocent self was intact because something tragic hadn't happened.**

Ed looked up for a second before turning attention back to his hands. He knew it was Al coming through the door to find him. Al held his hand to his mouth as he called to his brother. "Ed! Ed! Where are you?" He wandered right under Ed.

He held in his breath as he stared at Alphonse. Did Al know Mom was going to leave? Maybe he heard something...

Alphonse looked up and saw Edward. "Come down."

"No. I'm never coming down." Ed slammed his hands to the branch he was on. "I am not coming down until Mom comes back."

Alphonse sighed and looked at his feet before staring into Edward's eyes. "Mom is never coming back."

Ed lost his breath even though he sucked in sharply. His heart skipped a beat and before he knew it, he lost his grip on the branch and fell to the ground.

He moaned as he lifted himself onto his hands and knees. Al was kneeled by his side, hand out. Ed stared at his hand for a second before getting up himself and dusting his knees off. "I'll get better, stronger, and smarter. Then I am bringing Mom back!"

Al tsked. "Don't pursue that Edward."

"I will do it, Alphonse!"

"Don't try; you'll only be hurt." Alphonse had gained some older brother-ly senses and he felt protective of Ed.

Edward ignored his pleading voice. "Alphonse..."

Al knew where this was going. "Please don't Ed!"

"I promise."

**This won't be the first reference to the original universe, fyi. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this follows the brotherhood storyline a little more. :3

Oh, and next chapter will time-skip. Sorry for all the short chapters so far. I hate reading long chapters so I avoid writing them. I'll update as often as possible to make up for it. Reviews keep me going, fyi!