Chapter Five ~ Separate Paths

The years passed painfully slow. At the same time, they passed in a blink. Hohenheim grew quieter and quieter until he lost the ability to speak. Alphonse took care of the household. Edward only talked of saving Mom. Without real motivation or trauma, Ed lacked the drive to pursue Alchemy. Alphonse stopped the day Mom left. Ed had kept trying, but to no avail.

His new plan was to join the military as a soldier, rise the ranks, and have the power to send people out to find Mom.

xXxXxXxTime SkipxXxXxXx

Fifteen year old Edward Elric leaned against the window pane. He watched as miles of scenery passed in a blur. He was on a train to Central. He would enlist in the military and find Mom. Nothing would stop him.

Except the train stopping. It stopped quickly; almost all at once. The engineer was yelling inaudibly. After a few minutes, he quieted down and started the train again. A young lady was now on the train, walking down the aisle . She had green eyes, beautiful eyelashes, and long blond hair. She was wearing a light pink dress.

She stopped by Edward. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Ed barely stopped himself from sighing in annoyance. "Not at all," he said with the nicest tone he could manage.

The girl sat down across from him. Ed looked up at her. "Are you the one who stopped the train?" He took a sip from his coffee after speaking.

"Yep. I'm pretty strong." Ed narrowly avoided a spit take. He didn't think she had literally stopped it, and by herself no less.

"Oh...That must be alchemy you used, right?"

"Nope! I'm just really strong. I guess that's because I'm an Armstrong." She blushed and put her face in her hands.

"An Armstrong?"

"Yep! We're a somewhat famous Central family that is known for serving in the military."

"If you're from Central, why are you travelling there?" Ed managed to take another sip while planning to ask about the military next.

"I was out East for some piano lessons." She smiled and blushed as she realized she didn't mention she was good under the piano, not on it. "I had to come back for an... emergency."

Ed's eyes widened with interest. "What kind of emergency?"

"My older brother died in service." Catherine's blush was gone and replaced with a pale, sorrowful look full of pain.

"Oh...I'm really sorry," he gave a comforting smile. "At least he died serving his country."

"I guess..." She looked at the table. "I'm just sad that he died by the hands of another alchemist."

"Alchemist?" Ed's interest was loud and clear.

"Yep. He was a water and ice alchemist. Everyone keeps saying he was complaining about the military being corrupt. But it wouldn't be corrupt if my brother was serving in it."

"I hope the military isn't corrupt; I'm joining it!"

"Really?" Disappointment thickened her surprise.

"Yep. I have a goal I need to reach, and I won't achieve it on my own."

"But... Lots of alchemists have been dying lately..."

"I'm not an alchemist. Well..." Ed contradicted himself at a last thought.

"Are you?"

"I used to... But my mom...She left us."

"I'm sorry. That's awful." She frowned before giving a comforting smile in return.

"Yeah it is...Well, let's hope we both can have a change of luck."

"Yep!"

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Alphonse slammed into the roof. The hammer had finished the last nail. The roof was finally fixed. A storm was supposed to come in three days, and now they were ready.

"It's ready for you to come down!" Winry put a hand to her mouth and called up. She was on the ground, holding the ladder still. It had been wobbly from the light breeze. It wasn't hard on the ladder, but Winry was all for safety. There wasn't a cloud in sight, making Winry lick her finger and stick it out to check the strength of the wind.

"Coming!" Alphonse called as he slipped down the ladder. He hit the ground with a comforting thump. He turned to Winry and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Winry."

She smiled. "Not a problem, Al."

A huge bang boomed through the house. Alphonse didn't hesitate a single second, dashing inside, dodging the fixing tools on the ground, and making it to Hohenheim's room. Hohenheim was on the floor against the wall, his right hand on his heart.

"Hohenheim! What's wrong, Dad?" Alphonse was frantic.

Hohenheim just closed his eyes and let himself fall to the ground. Alphonse felt hot tears slipping down his soft face. "Dad...Why wouldn't you just speak your mind?"

Hohenheim had started talking less and less after Trisha left. By Ed's eight birthday, Hohenheim and stopped talking altogether, and he hadn't said a single word since.

"Dad...Don't make me bury you without Ed and Mom!" Alphonse was on his knees, shaking Hohenheim's shoulders. It was then that he noticed Hohenheim's hand over his heart. "You..." Alphonse realized what was wrong. Tears fell down his face faster, like waterfalls of salty sorrow.

Winry had just ran in, and she was speechless when she saw Hohenheim. Tears collected in her eyes for seconds before pouring out. She held her hands to her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

Alphonse touched his dad's face. "You died from a broken heart, didn't you?" He had a weak smile on his face. "You had me and my love, though." Alphonse reasoned with his father's body. "I never blamed you. But you blamed yourself, didn't you?"

Alphonse leaned in closer and hugged his father. "I love you."