Chapter 18
Alphonse watched the blizzard rage on through the window. The world beyond the frosted over glass was nothing but a whirl of pale gray and hazy white. The storm had come on suddenly during the middle of the night, and even now into the early afternoon of the next day the intense squall showed no signs of letting up. Usually Al was still soothed by the whimsical sight of falling snow, but now any semblance of comfort was shattered and ground into dust by frustration as he mentally glowered at the storm.
They didn't have time for this…they were finally, so painfully, close to rescuing Edward and Mustang…how could fate and nature itself be so damn cruel?
A full day had now passed since Vance had hesitantly approached Alphonse and told him where his brother and the colonel were. He remembered the joy being tempered by grief when he found out they truly were chimeras now, but Al had decided to save any mourning for later as he took Vance and Abigail to meet the rest of the crew.
At first the team had been hesitant to trust the young man's words, disbelief and suspicion written clearly on their features until Vance had finally told all that he knew. After he had not only given the crew information only someone part of the investigation would know, he had also promised to give them detailed directions and even offered to outline the way on the map. For the first time since Ed and Mustang had gone missing there had been a genuine relief and happiness on each of the team members faces. Finally, after so many months of false leads and dead ends they had had the solution to all of their problems practically dropped into their lap.
As soon as Vance had finished giving the crew all of the information that he knew of the case, they had reacted true to Alphonse's earlier word. Hawkeye, and the others, had been more than happy to accept the terms of Vance's deal and had offered him and his ailing sister the sanctuary they had so desperately sought. After talking with the kind elderly couple who ran the motel, and giving them the good news as well, they too were eager to offer up another room to house the siblings.
Now Alphonse sat in the room he shared with Hawkeye, the lieutenant having gone to start making preparations with the rest of the crew for the upcoming rescue, but he was far from alone. Vance sat by his side, watching the storm anxiously alongside Al, as his sister Abigail napped in Alphonse's unused bed with Hayate curled comfortably beside her. Having the two siblings there was like a breath of fresh air for the once dreary and gloomy investigation, breathing much needed new life among their ranks. Vance was a kind and understanding soul, someone more than willing to lend an open heart and mind, and Alphonse had quickly bonded with the young man.
"Do we really have to wait until the storm passes?" He turned towards Vance, a small spark of hope flickering through his heart as he watched his red haired companion. Vance was silent for a few moments, staring thoughtfully out at the falling snow before turning a forlorn gaze to Al.
"I'm sorry to say that yes, we do." The young man said in a sympathetic tone, knowing how desperate Alphonse felt about rescuing his brother and the colonel as soon as possible. Green eyes met soul fire red as Vance continued on in a quiet voice. "The roads leading up to the lab are bad enough on their own, and with this amount of snowfall they'd be nearly impossible to navigate safely."
"Oh…" Al said with a dejected sigh, while he had known the likely answer to the question, having his fragile hope so quickly snuffed out still hurt. From the compassionate look Vance was giving him, Alphonse knew that the young man was genuinely sorry to give voice to the bad news.
"I wouldn't worry though," Vance gave him a gentile smile as his tone grew lighter and more optimistic. "The storm should be gone by tomorrow and then we'll be able to set out. I'm sure having to wait another day will be no big problem in the grand scheme of things."
"I hope…I'm just anxious to finally find them. It's been so long since I saw Ed…and even though the reunion isn't at all what I had hoped it to be, I'll be happy just to have him back." Al said before letting out a small sigh as he rested his metal elbows on the windowsill before placing his head onto his folded hands. "I just have this strange feeling that they need my help as soon as possible…it's hard to explain, but I fear that they're in trouble right now…"
"I understand," Vance said in a soft voice as he too returned to watching the relentless squall just outside the glass. "I hope they aren't, and I wish there was more that I could do to help not only you, but Edward and the colonel as well. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what…Abigail and I quite literally owe you our lives because of your kindness."
Alphonse shot a quick glance back at Vance's sister, taking in her paler complexion and thin frame. While Vance had never told him exactly what Abigail was suffering from, it was clearly taking its toll on them both physically and mentally. The two were very hesitant when it came to being separated, and Al knew all too well the deep bond shared between siblings. He hoped with all his heart that they would find peace now that there was no threat to their lives.
"I'm glad you're here too." Alphonse said as he let his gaze return to Vance. "And not just because of all the information you've given us. You're a good person Vance, and I'm glad to be able to help you as well. I know we haven't known each other long, but I consider you a friend."
Vance's green eyes shimmered happily as he smiled back at Al, looking much more at ease. His gaze wandered slowly from Alphonse to the window, as though deep in thought before speaking up in a slightly hesitant, yet curious, voice. "So…can you tell me more about your brother and the colonel? While I heard a bit about you from the stories they told, they never really talked much about themselves."
Al let out a sigh full of both fondness and frustration as he thought back on the relationship between Ed and Mustang. "Well the two of them have always butted heads about nearly everything, and neither of them can ever be wrong about something either. They would fight all the time, probably because they're very similar to each other. They're both too stubborn for their own good, just so set in their ways…but they both are very smart and have a good heart…they just never seem to acknowledge those similarities…"
As Alphonse spoke he realized that things had more than likely changed between Ed and Mustang by now. So much had happened to them over the past few months, maybe they'd grown closer and finally realized how alike they were…but were the two of them even really the same anymore? Was there still humanity in them…or had they been lost to the beast they'd be merged with..?
It seemed as though Vance had picked up on Alphonse's sorrowful musings, his companion gently tapping his fist against Al's shoulder to get his attention. As he slowly resurfaced from the dark and nearly overwhelming waters of his grief he turned his head to see Vance giving him a sympathetic look once again, a small glimmer of guilt in his eyes.
"I'm sorry to have brought you any sort of distress." He told Alphonse in a quiet and apologetic tone, looking away for a moment before a small smile parted his lips. "How about you tell me a good memory you have of your brother? With someone like Edward for a sibling I'm sure you must have plenty of wild stories!"
Al was grateful for the change in topic, no matter how slight it may be, and knew that thinking of something brighter would help to ease the sadness that hovered over him like a stubborn cloud. Vance seemed to be good at sensing the emotions of others and Alphonse was thankful for his companion's keen insight.
"Well, there was this one time…"
Alphonse soon launched into the first story that had come to mind, a memory centered around a particular journey he and his brother had taken to get to a train station that had led them through the middle of a dense forest. As he spoke Al felt a small bud of happiness cautiously take root deep within his aching heart…it had been too long since he had shared a fond memory of him and Ed, and telling the story to someone who seemed more than eager to listen felt nice.
As Alphonse progressed in the story he found himself laughing alongside Vance as he told of Edward's ridiculous plan to climb the closest tree in order to get the lay of the land, only to be thwarted by an irritated squirrel that'd been suddenly roused from its slumber and had leapt at the older brother in retaliation. He could vividly remember how Ed had practically dove out of the tree in an attempt to escape, almost landing on his face as the fluffy tailed rodent chittered at the two of them in anger.
From one story Al found himself jumping into another amusing tale and with each recalled memory, alongside Vance's laughter and comments, it felt as though some light had begun to reach his heart through the despairing darkness surrounding it. It had been months since he had laughed so hard from true happiness, and for a moment the world felt right again, as though nothing terrible had ever occurred.
Before he could launch into another story Vance held up a hand as he tried to catch his breath through his laughter, even wiping away a stray tear as he wheezed from amusement. After the laughing fit had passed he gazed warmly back at Alphonse, smiling broadly before finding his voice again. "I sure was right about you having some great stories! You two have sure gone through a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, we've been there for each other through both the good and the bad." Al remarked thoughtfully as he looked down at Vance, joy breaking through his grief's once firm hold over his soul. "It's been so long since I thought back on those memories, so…thank you, Vance. It's so nice to have someone here to tell them to that hasn't heard any of them already."
Vance smiled back at him, his mouth opening in preparation to voice a reply only for the words to be swallowed up by a sudden loud ringing that echoed through Alphonse's mind. He shook his head in a desperate attempt to make the noise stop to no avail, the sound only growing louder and more intense in response. Before he could call out to Vance for his help, a new voice reached out at him through the ringing, passing through the chaos with ease.
"Alphonse…" Al had never heard this strange voice before, it was low and nothing but an urgent whisper that came in and out of tune like it was emanating through a broken radio. "They need your help…Ed and Roy…they need your help as soon as possible…they are in grave danger…"
"W-Who…or, what, are you?" Alphonse felt chilled down to the very core of his being, wondering if this was what it was like to lose one's mind. He could sense a presence other than Vance's, this one feeling more oppressive and full of a troubling amount of anxiety…what was even happening?
A sudden thought of the vast and nearly endless expanse of pure white that he had seen when he'd passed out flickered unpleasantly through his thoughts. This voice was definitely not his brother's this time though, it was deeper and had a slight ring to it…Al was sure he had never heard it before in his life. "What's happened to them? Are they okay, are they still even alive?"
"They live for now…but their fate hangs from the thinnest of threads…" The voice grew louder and more insistent as it continued on, and Alphonse was even able to glimpse a fleeting flash of worried blue eyes through the darkness of his mind. "They need you, Alphonse…you have to hurry…there is still time…leave once the storm ends, and find them…"
"Who are you?!" Alphonse screamed internally back at the voice, but the presence was starting to fade away. Desperate for information and absolutely terrified, he tried to reach out mentally to grab this intruder. For a moment the presence hesitated as Al cried out to it. "What is even going on?!"
"You have to hurry…hurry…" The strange voice in his mind gradually faded away almost as soon as it had appeared, its presence now completely gone. Al was left shaken, trembling both mentally and physically in its wake as a mixture of confusion and fear coursed through him. As the world around him came back in an abrupt rush of sights and sounds Alphonse quickly noticed that Vance was staring at him with wide and deeply concerned eyes.
"Alphonse, are you alright?" The young man asked in a worried tone as he rested a hand atop Al's shoulder in a gesture of comfort, looking uneasy as a hint of fear flashed in the depths of his gaze. "What just happened? You went completely unresponsive before you started to shake badly."
"Did…did you hear it too?" Alphonse's voice was hoarse from terror as he looked down at Vance, wishing that his companion would be able to give him some sort of logical answer as to what he'd just experienced.
"Hear what? I…I didn't hear anything other than your armor rattling. What was it?" Vance's bewilderment was slowly growing into a deep anxiety as he stared fearfully back at Al. It was clear from the confusion contorting his features that he had absolutely no clue as to what was going on.
"I…I…It…" While Alphonse wanted so desperately to tell Vance what had actually happened, he hesitated. In that moment he realized that he was too worried about confusing his friend even more, scared that Vance would try and tell him it was all just a figment of his imagination. He knew it was more than a daydream, it had felt so real…too real…there was no way it could have been anything other than some sort of vision.
"Well…I guess if you didn't hear it…then I must have just let my mind wander." Al tried desperately to simply shrug off his ever increasing terror and isolation as he lied to Vance, feeling a deep twinge of guilt in his heart as he voiced the lie. While it hurt him to know he was being dishonest with his friend he knew that in the end keeping it to himself would be best for the both of them right now. "Sorry…you were about to tell me something before I drifted off, what was it?"
Though Vance looked uncertain about Alphonse's claim, concern still glittering in his eyes, he hesitantly began to talk. As the young man spoke Al heard none of the individual words, still in too much of a daze to completely comprehend what he was being told. Instead he turned his attention to the raging storm just beyond the glass, listlessly watching the snow fall as his thoughts began to wander.
After a few moments Vance grew silent, seeming to sense that Al wasn't hearing him and instead followed his soul fire gaze back to the window. Alphonse was conscious of the young man's presence, grateful to have him at his side as Vance gave him silent support while his thoughts whirled chaotically through his troubled mind.
Had what'd just happened to him actually been real? Surely it must have been…how could he have made up a completely foreign voice like that? None of this had ever happened before his brother and the colonel had been taken…was he finally starting to lose his mind because of the stress?
Alphonse thought back to the first time something similar had happened, when he had seen Ed vividly in that place of endless white. Edward had given him a name that had actually belonged to one of the lead scientists…and how could that have been fake? These two incidents must be connected somehow…but by what, he had absolutely no clue.
With no logical answer coming to mind, Al returned to watching the snow fall as a lump of dread settled in his heart. Was this mysterious voice right about Edward and Mustang? If what it had said was true then the two were in danger…but he still had to wait for this damned storm to end.
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A vast and seemingly endless sea of nothingness was all Ed was truly aware of as he simply drifted alone in the void, no dream nor nightmare able to reach him through the thick and oppressive darkness. It was as though the blazing fire deep within his body had burned everything away, both the good and the bad, leaving behind nothing but pain and heat as it turned the world inside Ed's mind into a dark, charcoal black.
The fever was making him feel disoriented and so terribly sick, waves of nausea roiling throughout his body alongside the hot agony that pulsed steadily from the wound in his neck. Ed felt like he was on the verge of vomiting, but he had eaten nothing in so long that he doubted there was anything left in his twisting stomach to expel. Instead he tried to hold back the urge as he felt a small and involuntary whimper escape from his sore throat.
Alongside the pain and discomfort, Ed felt absolutely exhausted even though he knew that he was still asleep. It felt like any minuscule amount of energy that had managed to linger deep within his being had seeped out of him, leaving him completely drained as well as robbing him of his perception of time. Ed had no clue as to how long he'd been trapped in this dark purgatory, but he so desperately wished that he could somehow escape it.
The only thing he remained completely aware of was Roy's unwavering presence at his side, and while Ed was not able to see his guardian, knowing he was still there helped to ease the worst of his fear. Occasionally soft humming would ring pleasantly through Ed's mind as he felt his guardian lap comfortingly at his ears or gently nuzzle at his cheek, every little loving gesture from the outside world soothing him down to his soul and keeping this hungering darkness from fully consuming him.
Still, floating aimlessly in this vast ocean of shadow made Ed feel horribly alone despite Roy's presence and soft, wordless lullabies. A twinge of fear and sorrow pierced his heart as Ed wondered if he would ever wake again, deeply disturbed at the thought of never seeing his beloved guardian again. Was he doomed to be trapped within this darkness until his body finally gave out on him…to simply fade away into the void, losing all that he was..?
Ed knew now that there was something terribly wrong with him…that he was more than likely dying from the last vicious blow Anna had dealt him. Judging by how badly he was feeling, and no doubt in part to the poor conditions of the forest, the wound was probably infected now. If only Roy had been able to find actual medicine…the herbs that had once worked were no match for something of this magnitude…So, how long did he have?
Dark musings flowed freely through Ed's troubled mind, slipping through the darkness to whisper doubts into his ears. Was there truly an afterlife, a place of light and everlasting peace? Would all of this pain fade away…and would he be able to watch over those he loved until it was their time to join him?
With a pathetically small whine of sorrow Ed thought about those closest to him and how his death would affect them. His poor little brother would never be able to return to his flesh and blood body…he'd never get to see Alphonse's smile or feel the warmth of his embrace after getting his body back…Al would be a hollow suit of armor until the blood seal keeping his soul in the realm of the living finally failed…
Then there was Roy, his beloved guardian who had done all he possibly could to keep him safe…all those sacrifices would mean nothing in the end. Ed thought his heart would shatter at the thought of Roy being left all alone in the wilderness with only a cold corpse for company. Ed knew that his guardian would give up on life with him gone. There was just so much that he still needed to do, so many promises to fulfill and hopes for the future…was this really how all of it would end?
The sudden sensation of something cold and damp being draped over his forehead startled Ed out of those bleak musings, causing him to almost instinctively gasp in shock and fear. What terrible thing was happening to his body now…was this what dying felt like? Having no idea as to what was occurring, and fearing it was the icy touch of death's hand reaching for him, Ed desperately attempted to pull away from whatever was placed on his head. He writhed feebly as a terrified moan escaped from deep within his chest, not sure if he was ready to die just yet as his body began to tremble violently.
"Ed?" Roy's clear and achingly familiar voice echoed through his panicked mind, causing Ed to cease in his pathetic struggle as he felt a gentle touch against his cheek. He could feel his guardian's warm breath ruffle through his fur as a soft pressure was applied just under Ed's jaw, Roy's voice now muffled as he went on. "Is Ed awake? Can he hear Roy?"
"R-Roy…" Ed's voice was a quiet rasp, shaking as badly as his body as he focused on trying to open his heavy eyelids. Ed tried to thrust his way through the darkness of his mind and into the waking world, his paws twitching faintly as he tried to part the shadows as though he were swimming through dark water. It took all of his willpower not to howl in terror, his scared voice wavering in the cold air. "What is h-happening? E-Ed is scared…"
"All is well Pup…there is nothing to fear…" Ed wondered if his words had actually reached Roy as he felt a warm body settle by his side, a soft paw pulling his own trembling form closer to the steady, comforting heat. "Can Ed feel Roy right next to him? He has, and always will be, there for his pup…"
With a great amount of effort, somehow managing to muster up the very last of his strength, Ed was finally able to push through the darkness, reaching out towards the light that was the conscious world with one last thrust. As his eyes slowly opened though Ed was completely shocked and horrified to see nothing but shadows, the world having turned into the darkness of his mind…had all this just been one last, cruel joke from death?
Immediately consumed by panic, Ed tried to move his clumsy paws in a desperate attempt to remove the weight that had settled over his eyes and blacked out his vision. He let out a quiet whimper before beginning to thrash weekly, both his heart and mind racing as his whine morphed into a horrified wail. "W-What is this? Ed c-can't see anything…has E-Ed gone blind?!"
"Don't worry Pup; Roy will take care of it." His guardian's sudden yet calming voice was able to ease the worst of Ed's fear, though his body continued to shake and his thoughts remained rattled. He felt the comforting warmth leave as Roy slowly stood from where he had been lying at Ed's side, and before he could descend into panic at being left all alone in this new and unfamiliar darkness the black shroud was lifted from his eyes.
"Roy put a piece of wet blanket over Ed's forehead to help with his fever." Roy's voice was deeply apologetic as he gazed down at Ed with wide onyx eyes, but just the simple sight of actually being able to see his guardian crouching in front of him was enough to chase away any lingering terror. As relief flowed through Ed's battered body, Roy continued on in a low and almost guilty tone. "Roy is very sorry that he scared his pup so badly…if he had known…"
That now achingly familiar look of pure concern contorted his guardian's features and sent a rush of sorrow racing through Ed's still pounding heart at the knowledge that he was the reason for all of Roy's stress. Now feeling his own pang of guilt, Ed did his best to smile as he managed to move a trembling paw to rest it atop one of Roy's, fixing his guardian with his own look of apology. "It is fine…Ed is alright now that he can see Roy again."
Relief seemingly washed over Roy as the dark chimera let out a small sigh before closing his eyes and lowering his head in order to lap fondly at Ed's ears. As his guardian fussed over him for a few moments, as though calming his own nerves as he moved to nuzzle softly at his cheek, Ed let out his own relieved sigh and allowed his tensed body to relax. Eventually Roy gradually ceased with his loving gestures, pulling back just enough to gaze into Ed's eyes before speaking up in a hesitant voice. "Since Ed is awake now, Roy can change his bandages and Ed can tell Roy if he is in any pain."
"O-Okay…" Ed replied in a low and shaking tone, knowing full well that no matter how gentle Roy was at removing the leafy binding from around his neck that it was going to hurt. He did is best to hide his dread before nodding stiffly and moving into a better position so that his guardian could easily access the wound. Roy seemed to sense his growing fear as he leaned forward to run his muzzle along Ed's tense jaw in a soothing gesture while Ed silently braced himself for the pain he knew would come soon.
"Roy needs to get some supplies first." His guardian's voice was calm and even, though a sympathetic light gleamed in his onyx eyes as he let out a small huff of breath and heaved himself to his paws. Roy then carefully limped around Ed to get to the other side of the den where he had placed the herbs, wincing slightly as the movement jostled his injured leg.
"Does Roy's leg still hurt?" Ed asked in a small voice, not daring to move his head to follow his guardian for fear of further hurting himself and remained as still as he could. Guilt once again raced through him when he realized that he'd nearly forgotten all about Roy's bad leg, feeling terribly selfish at only focusing on his own injury. "Ed wishes he could help somehow…maybe Roy could take some of Ed's herbs…"
"No, Roy's leg is fine, just a little stiff because of how he was sitting." Roy's voice was firm even though it was muffled as he sorted through the remaining herbs with his muzzle. "Ed doesn't need to worry about it at all. Ed should worry about himself instead."
Ed let out a quiet sigh in response, frustration and fondness warring within him at the reminder of how stubborn Roy could be. Of course his guardian would never actually tell him if he was hurting, though it certainly didn't stop Ed from worrying about the dark furred chimera in the slightest. He wished that he wasn't so sick and weak, then he'd be able to properly call Roy out on his foolishness before finding a way to help.
Instead Ed let his listless gaze wander slowly around the den, taking in his new surroundings. The walls and ceiling were made of light brown, splintered wood, much different to the gray stone he'd grown accustomed to, but it felt warmer than their previous den. He felt that given time he'd grow to actually like it.
As Ed shifted slightly in his soft nest of pillows and blankets his eye fell onto the nearby water dish just an inch or so away from his head. The sudden and strong sensation of thirst struck him and Ed carefully raised himself up onto his elbows, cautiously leaning forward to lap up a few mouthfuls of blissfully cold water as his eyes slowly slid closed in pleasure.
Once the dull ache in his throat had faded Ed settled back down into the warm blankets below, repositioning himself as he heard the sound of pawsteps crunching through the tough, dead grass that was the den's floor. When Ed finally opened his eyes he saw that Roy was now sitting in front of him, dropping a few limp leaves and long wilted flowers onto the ground before carefully grinding the herbs beneath his paw.
Watching his guardian work sent a small rush of dread throughout Ed's body, suddenly reminded of the pain he would soon feel. From the way Roy crouched stiffly in front of him, shoulders tensed as one ear flicked uneasily, Ed knew that his guardian was feeling anxious as well. Ed hoped for both of their sakes that everything would go smoothly, with not terrible surprises awaiting them, but he knew it was more than likely wishful thinking.
"Roy is ready now, but if anything starts to hurt Ed needs to tell him and Roy will do what he can to ease the pain. Is Ed ready for this?" Roy's gaze was wide and full of pity, watching his pup closely as Ed braced himself before nodding stiffly in response. He then closed his eyes once more and took in a deep breath, hearing his guardian inhale quickly as well before beginning to gently paw at the leafy binding that hid Ed's wound.
At first Ed felt little to nothing as the outer layer of leaves was carefully peeled away, and this lack of feeling lulled him into a false sense of peace until Roy got closer to uncovering the injury. When he drew nearer to the wound Ed couldn't stop himself from gritting his teeth against the gradually increasing pain, doing his best to remain still and silent, just wanting it all to end as soon as possible.
"How does Ed feel right now?" Ed was able to hear Roy's low, steady voice through the growing haze of agony, and the calmness of his tone gave him the courage to open his eyes. He saw that his guardian was mainly focused on removing the bandage as painlessly as possible, though his dark gaze would occasionally dart up from his work to quickly check in on Ed's condition. "Is Ed hurting at all?"
Ed let out a small sigh as he silently mulled over the question, wondering if he should tell Roy the truth as to how he was currently feeling. While he really didn't want his guardian to worry more about him than he already was, Ed decided that there was no need to hide anything; Roy could probably see for himself as to how terrible Ed felt.
"Ed hurts," He admitted as he averted his gaze from Roy, not wanting to see that familiar look of worry that his guardian now seemed to constantly wear. "Ed doesn't feel good at all…he is so tired and really hot…nothing is right…Ed just feels so sick…"
"Roy is sorry that he can't do more to help his pup…if only he had found some actual medicine…" Roy trailed off in his sorrowful lament, and as Ed raised his eyes to look at his distressed guardian he saw that Roy was now looking completely away from him as he worked.
"There is nothing for Roy to be sorry about…none of this was his fault." Able to feel the waves of despair that radiated from his guardian's body, Ed longed to simply get up and pull Roy close in an attempt to ease his distress. Ed was much too weak to even move, much less sit up right now as his body slowly withered away from the blazing fire that scorched through his body…"Roy is doing all he can for Ed…just as he has always done…"
"Roy will always feel that he is to blame for this…" His guardian carried on as though Ed had not spoken, his movements slow and careful as he reached the final leaf that covered Ed's wound. "Roy should have protected his pup better…then none of this would have ever happened…"
Roy's voice trailed off just as a crisp, icy gust of wind blew softly into the den and met with Ed's now exposed wound, causing the ailing chimera to gasp out in shock and pain. Immediately his guardian pulled back with a horrified look, as though worried that he had caused the sudden reaction, his eyes wide and full of a steadily growing dismay.
At first Ed wondered what could have caused Roy such pure fear until the terrible smell finally hit him. Silence settled heavily over the pair as the reality of the situation slowly set in, both of them too stunned to say anything. Ed knew from personal experience as to what a particularly bad infection smelled like, and the stench that was currently rising from his own wound meant only one thing…That Ed didn't have much longer until his body would fail him.
"It…It's really bad, isn't it?" Ed's voice was a scared rasp, hesitant yet desperately longing for any sort of answer from his guardian, but instead being met with nothing but silence. "How…How long does Ed have…u-until…he..?"
He was unable to finish the rest of his question, too choked by emotion as dread weighed heavily within his aching heart. Roy flinched in response to Ed's words, too distraught to even speak as his dark eyes glistened with sorrow. Instead he lowered his head to nuzzle fiercely at Ed's cheek, as though the strength of the love he had for his pup would somehow be enough to spare the latter's life.
Ed closed his eyes, unable to watch his guardian suffer from his own silent grief as a sorrowful acceptance slowly descended over him. Right now it didn't matter how much time he had left, death was waiting patiently for him in the shadows, ready to pounce when it saw fit…all that really mattered was that Ed used what little time allotted to him to prepare his guardian for the inevitable.
While the silence stretched on he felt Roy lap softly at his forehead before pulling back, seeming to have been able to reel in his emotions enough that he was able to force a weak smile. Though his guardian's eyes were still filled with unshed tears he spoke in a level and steady voice. "Roy still needs to clean out Ed's wound…and he's sorry if it hurts his pup in any way."
Roy then began to reach for the damp cloth that had previously covered Ed's head, picking it up in his jaws and moving to daub it very carefully against the wound. Ed flinched in response, already starting to slowly drift off again as his fever spiked, the fire blazing unhindered throughout his suffering body. The pain was slowly fading away alongside the rest of the world as his vision grew more and more hazy, his consciousness slipping away from him…like his life was…soon everything would come to an end…soon there would be nothing at all…
"So Roy and Ed haven't done their memory game in a while." His guardian's voice was somehow able to reach him through the fog clouding his mind, managing to drag Ed back into the waking world as he opened his tired eyes and fixed Roy with a confused look. "Maybe it will help Ed stay awake until Roy finishes."
It took Ed an almost alarming amount of strength to simply nod his head in agreement, seeing the sense in his guardian's thinking as well as wanting to humor his idea. "Okay…but Roy has to start…"
Roy let out an amused huff as he leaned back slightly, pulling the cloth away before reaching for the mashed herbs nearby. He seemed to focus on thinking of a memory as his paw hovered over the green pulp below, seeming to finally settle on one before dipping his paw into the herbs. "Does Ed remember when he messed with Roy's office chair and made it collapse when Roy sat down on it?"
Ed let out a rusty laugh as he recalled the event, wincing slightly when his guardian pressed his herb covered paw against the wound. "Of course Ed does…Roy should h-have really looked at it…b-before sitting down…idiot…"
His guardian cuffed him lightly over the ears with his soft tail as Roy let out his own quick bark of laughter. "Well how was Roy supposed to know what Ed did? Roy never had to look at the chair closely before Ed ruined it."
"But Ed is s-sure that Roy looked it o-over closely after that…" Ed's light tone ended in a gasp of pain as the herb juices slowly soaked into the wound, causing small dots to dance throughout his vision as Ed focused on just staying conscious. "R-Roy needs to be m-more prepared anyway…"
Through the clustering stars moving closer together in an attempt to black out his sight Ed saw Roy looking down at him with nothing but sorrow glowing in his dark onyx eyes. His guardian's tail then moved to gently brush down Ed's spine in a comforting gesture, the sensation helping to ground him and keeping him from passing out.
"How about…w-when…" Ed's voice trailed off as he tried to think of even a simple memory, the thoughts in his mind scattering like birds taking flight as he desperately attempted to grab one. "When Ed turned a-all of Roy's pens…into l-little cats?"
"How could Roy forget that?" His guardian's voice was warm and full of relief as he grabbed the new bandages that lay nearby. There was a fond wistfulness in his gaze as he began to carefully maneuver Ed's head in order to better wrap his neck with the clean cloth binding. "Roy blamed Al at first until Ed started to yell at him."
"Al…Ed remembers Al…his l-little brother…" Ed's mind and fragile grasp of consciousness started to drift away once more, and this time he allowed the lurking shadows to slowly claim him again. The mention of his brother brought with it a sharp pang of sorrow at the thought of never seeing Al again, and Ed let out a small whimper as he went on. "W-Where is Al? Ed wants his b-brother…is Al hiding somewhere?"
"Ed, Al isn't here with them…" Roy's voice was low and filled with anguish, the feeling of something warm and soft running along his spine causing Ed to instinctively relax. Right now nothing in the waking world was making sense…the only thing he was completely sure of was his guardian's presence beside him…always by his side…
"Ed w-wishes he could…see Al again…o-one more time before…" Talking was growing more and more difficult; his tongue feeling thick and heavy as though it were made of lead. How was Roy able to hear him anymore? Was Ed even still awake…or was all of this just a complicated dream?
"And Ed will see Al again," That familiar and soothing voice was firm yet mixed with a deep sadness…a set of brilliant onyx eyes meeting Ed's wavering gaze…the last thing he saw of the waking world before his vision went completely dark. "Roy will make sure of it."
"R-Roy…oh, Roy…" Ed whimpered sadly, knowing that his time was slowly coming to an end…if only he could tell Roy all he wanted to say…just how much his guardian meant to him and how he would miss him so much. "Ed is…so, so sorry…"
"Ed doesn't need to apologize for anything…" A wonderfully relaxing warmth wrapped securely around Ed's weak and trembling body, drawing him close as a soft pressure settled against the back of his neck. "Just rest now, Pup…Roy will make things right…no matter what…"
It felt like everything was melting away as the fire within Ed's tired body raged on with seemingly no end in sight, the world around him nothing more than a thick blanket of darkness. Before the shadows claimed him, Ed used what little remained of his strength to voice a few words. "Roy…E-Ed loves Roy…so v-very much…"
"Roy loves Ed too…he loves his pup so, so much…" With those quiet and calming words echoing through his mind like the sweetest of lullabies, Ed lost his fight to stay conscious. As he succumbed to the hungering darkness, the knowledge that he was safe and loved made Ed smile before there was nothing but shadows
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Roy was only able to gaze down at his poor suffering pup as despair tore away at his aching heart like an animal trapped in his ribcage, wanting nothing more than to howl his grief and pain aloud yet managing to remain silent. There was a small semblance of comfort in seeing that Ed appeared to be sleeping easily at the moment, with the faint shadow of a smile on his face, but he knew that past that peaceful façade was a body struggling to fight back against the raging infection.
"He can't go on like this…he just doesn't have the strength…" Roy mused bleakly to himself as he took in Ed's near skeletal appearance, disheartened by the fact that he could easily count each rib and vertebrae from beneath the honey colored pelt. His pup's shoulders and hips jutted out in a painful looking way, almost as though they'd soon be able to break through his flesh and fur. Ed's eyes were sunken deep into his skull, shadowed and partially hidden by his golden bangs that rested over his hollow, almost empty looking cheeks.
It was at that moment Roy knew that if the infection didn't kill Ed, then starvation would claim him instead.
Time was only growing agonizingly shorter and shorter for his beloved pup, the thought of Ed's looming death was almost enough to send Roy into a deep, dark pit of anguish. Was this really how it would all end? After everything they had suffered through…the terrible transmutation that had started all this and their desperate attempt to survive all alone in the wilderness, would it all end in Ed's demise? Roy lowered his head and gritted his teeth against a wave of sorrow that threatened to sweep him away…it was all just so unfair, not only for his pup, but for him as well…
With a massive amount of willpower Roy reeled back his anguish, knowing that at this moment Ed needed him to be the stronger of the two, and he owed it to the ailing chimera to do all he could to keep them both alive. There was still time to make things right, still time to keep Ed from fading away…Roy just had to stay strong and keep a level head.
Letting out a low and weary sigh he moved to gently nuzzle at Ed's cheek before his gaze landed onto the few remaining herbs that he had left out in a messy pile just a foot or so away. Though Roy had better weather proofed the den earlier that day he still worried that a rogue gust of icy wind would blow away their dwindling supply of wilted leaves, scattering them across the den's floor.
Knowing that he needed to clean up, and not wanting to disturb his slumbering pup, Roy carefully uncurled himself from around Ed's feverish body to sit up in their shared nest, his eyes never once leaving the golden chimera. Ed remained unconscious and completely unmoved, still sleeping peacefully even when Roy cautiously stood and limped over to put away their remaining supplies, wincing slightly as the movement jarred his injured leg.
After a very short walk to the wilted herbs and bandages Roy sat down heavily before letting out a small, involuntary gasp. Though his twisted hind paw still sent the occasional jolt of hot pain racing up and throughout his leg, the bandages he had managed to loosely wrap around the limb helped to keep it steady, which prevented a fair amount of suffering. Still Roy situated himself carefully upon the brittle grass below, stretching his aching leg out and slightly to the side in a comfortable position before setting himself to work.
Using a single front paw he gathered up the little remaining leaves with slow and deliberate motions, putting them into a much neater pile while also taking stock of how many doses of healing herbs he had left. There looked to be just enough to last them another two days…though if Ed, miraculously, hadn't died by then, then Roy would have to search the unfamiliar landscape for more. If only he had gotten actual medicine from the lab…then maybe his pup would be able to hold on until help eventually arrived…if it ever did to begin with…
Roy shook his head vigorously in an attempt to rid his mind of those depressing thoughts, returning to the task at hand as he stared down at the small pile of herbs. After wrapping the dull green leaves up in the remaining length of bandage he carefully picked them up in his jaws, slowly standing up to turn towards where he usually stored their stock of herbs.
Upon weak and trembling legs Roy walked past Ed to place his miniscule bundle down where he had left a few remaining herbs in a shallow dip just below the overturned metal barrel. He was very relieved to see that the leaves and roots used to help manage his pup's pain were a bit more plentiful than the ones needed in cleaning out the wound…though if Ed slept most of the time would he really even need them?
With a small shiver of dread Roy remembered how Ed's wound had looked when he'd uncovered it a few minutes ago, dismayed to see how the infection had taken hold. He could still clearly picture the red and inflamed skin bordering the now festering cut, with a few thin red lines leading away from the injury and slowly nearing Ed's heart. There had been a startling amount of old and dry blood mixed together with thick, pale pus that'd been pulled away along with the leaf binding…the makeshift bandage seeming to have done more harm than good in the end.
Roy also knew that what his pup really needed now, more than anything, was actual medicine alongside proper food…something that he was unable to provide either of. Roy really hadn't eaten much of anything since the vicious battle that had caused Ed's near mortal wound, and now he was starting to feel his own body grow weaker with each passing day, and he doubted that he'd even be strong enough to hunt anymore.
Maybe the easiest and best thing to do now was to simply give up…to let his life fade away alongside Ed's. His pup seemed to have made peace with the fact that he would soon die, accepting that death was stalking closer with each labored breath…and if Ed was gone then there was nothing left for Roy in this world…he couldn't bear the thought of losing his pup…Giving up seemed like the best option in that moment…
"No." Roy thought firmly to himself as he craned his neck to look back at his sleeping pup, a fierce surge of love sending new energy racing through his exhausted body. "After all we have gone through, giving up is not the answer. We've fought so hard to survive for this long now…we'll both keep going until the very end."
With those words of determination still echoing in his mind Roy limped back over to stand by Ed's slumbering form, gazing fondly down at his beloved pup and watching the ragged rise and fall of his hollow flanks. As he continued to look down at him, Ed suddenly began to squirm in his sleep, a small whimper escaping his throat as he burrowed deeper into the blankets lining their nest.
"Everything is okay, Pup." Roy soothed in a soft voice as he settled down at Ed's side and wrapped his tail securely around the frail and feverish body. Hoping that his pup wasn't in any pain, Roy let his head rest beside the golden chimera's, watching his expression closely before continuing on. "Roy has promised to keep Ed safe, and that is exactly what he will do."
At that moment a small gust of cold wind suddenly rushed into the den and Roy immediately turned his attention towards the entrance, wanting to see if his earlier alterations remained intact. That morning he had gone and draped an extra blanket over the gap that led down into their new den, hoping to keep it in place with brambles at the top and large stones by the base. Miraculously the blanket stayed firmly in place, blocking most of the outside air from entering into the warn den as the snow storm continued to rage on just beyond the fabric.
From where he lay by Ed's side Roy gazed through the gap the blanket created to watch icy crystals as they fell heavily from the cloudy, gray sky. One side of the entrance was blocked by a steadily growing drift of snow, further preventing the cloth from moving and helping to keep the worst of the cold out.
As Roy absent mindedly watched the pure white snowflakes dance and swirl on the cold breeze just a few feet away he felt his thoughts begin to wander. He knew that if this storm continued for too long then their chances of rescue became worse with each passing day…and if the snow was never to slow then how would they be found? Surely their human friends wouldn't be searching for them in these conditions; it was far too dangerous to traverse through the frozen forest…
So would the pair of them even be found before Ed succumbed to his dreadful infection? Or would they be too late…only finding two half frozen corpses huddled together in this makeshift den?
"Help will come…" A quiet voice was carried by the frigid wind, startling Roy as his gaze snapped fearfully towards the entrance of the den, half expecting to see some creature peering back at him from beyond the blanket. There was nothing but the ice and snow though with no signs of disturbance as the voice returned once more, now nothing but the faintest of whispers. "They will be saved…"
Before Roy could further question what exactly he was hearing a louder whimper rose up from the frail and fever wracked form that huddled at his side. As his attention was immediately brought back to the inside of the den Roy turned and looked down to see Ed beginning to writhe weakly as he let out another miserable moan.
"Ed?" Roy asked gently as he lowered his head to get a better look at his pup's face, concerned to see his eyes still shut tight and his golden brow furrowed in distress. He lapped at Ed's cheek for a moment and this seemed to rouse his pup slightly as cloudy amber eyes slowly slid open.
"R-Roy?" Ed's voice was a low rasp as his heavy lidded eyes struggled to remain open, his wavering gaze locked onto Roy as he let out another quiet whine. "Roy…Ed…Ed h-hurts…r-really bad…"
With a rush of guilt Roy suddenly remembered that he hadn't given his pup any herbs to help dull his pain, having been far too concerned with the state of Ed's festering wound instead. Now he could see the toll that his pup's growing agony was having on him, energy slowly being sapped away from his already strained body. Ed soon began to pant as his front paws kneaded weakly at the blankets below in an effort to ease his suffering.
"Roy is so sorry, Ed. He will get his pup some herbs to help with the pain." Roy said as he quickly stood up, wincing at his own pain as his injured leg was jostled by the sudden movement. He ignored the ache in his twisted paw as he limped over to where the herbs were stored, knowing that in that moment Ed's pain was far more important than his own.
A small and trembling moan was all he received in response as Roy quickly gathered up the dry leaves and brittle roots that would help to soothe his pup's growing agony, carefully picking them up between his jaws while hoping that they didn't simply crumble. With the herbs secured Roy turned and limped over to Ed as fast as he possibly could, sitting down in front of his ailing pup and setting his small burden in front of the golden chimera.
"Here Pup, have some herbs," He urged gently as he pawed the fragile roots and leaves closer to Ed. For a moment his pup only gazed blankly at them, as though having forgotten what exactly was happening…and this reaction only served to terrify Roy more as he leaned forward to give Ed's cheek a reassuring nuzzle. "Those should help with the pain."
Roy's voice finally seemed to reach Ed through his fever hazed stupor as he shook his head lightly before his glassy eyes focused onto the herbs. Very cautious of his already painful wound, Ed craned his neck forward to lap them up in one swift motion, even managing to pull a face at the bitter tang of the herbs.
"There, there." Roy soothed gently as he ran his tail slowly and comfortingly down his pup's pronounced spine, his voice warm as he managed to hide his growing dread. Ed seemed so much sicker than he had been just a few minutes earlier. "That is very good; Ed is going to feel much better very soon."
Once Ed had finally swallowed down his herbs he gazed up at Roy with a glimmer of uncertainty in his fever bright eyes. Sensing his pup's unease, Roy stood and moved to lie down at Ed's side, pressing up against him in silent support as his pup rasped out hesitantly. "Will they really…h-help though?"
"Of course, they've helped before. Ed just needs to give them some time." He reassured Ed as his pup settled his head down onto Roy's front paws with a tired sigh, his gaze distant as he struggled to remain conscious. Roy settled his chin softly atop the back of his pup's head, pulling his trembling body closer with his tail.
"Ed is s-sorry…for always scaring Roy…" Ed breathed out in a sad and guilty tone, sounding miserable as he fidgeted slightly against Roy's side. He pressed his nose deeply into his pup's thick mane of golden fur, nuzzling him in a comforting gesture as Ed continued on in a low whisper. "He is also sorry t-that he…he can't help R-Roy with anything…b-because Ed is too s-sick…"
"There is absolutely nothing for Ed to be sorry about." Roy said in a soft yet fierce tone, desperately longing to do anything to make his poor, ailing pup's sorrow vanish. "Roy is doing fine; he isn't hurting at all right now. Ed needs to think about himself for once and not worry about things that can't be helped."
"B-But Roy can't d-do everything…on his own…" Ed's breathing seemed to be growing more quick and labored, as though his distress was making him even sicker, his words ending in a small whimper. "Ed s-should be h-helping…but h-he can't…Roy has a-always done…s-so much…"
"Ed has helped Roy in more ways than he can count." Roy pulled away just enough so that he was able to look into his pup's huge and hazy gold eyes. Ed stared up at him and the pure despair in his gaze nearly broke Roy's heart all over again. "Remember that it was Ed who taught Roy how to hunt, and Ed helped him when Roy was hurt after the rock fall. His pup has done many good and helpful things; Ed doesn't ever need to think that he was a burden."
He heard Ed let out a tiny keening sound as he buried his muzzle deeply into Roy's chest and began to sob, his tortured body trembling from a mixture of overwhelming emotion and pure exhaustion. Roy lapped soothingly at his pup's laid back ears in response, his own eyes filling with unshed tears as he let Ed cry without disturbance, though worry flowed through him as he felt just how high his pup's fever currently was.
After a minute or two Ed began to calm slightly and at first Roy thought that he'd cried himself to sleep until Ed's body suddenly grew tense. It was then that his pup began to let out short whimpers of distress, his muscles twitching unsettlingly from beneath his pelt as Roy pulled away to get a better look at him. His fear only increased as he took in Ed's condition, golden eyes wide and unfocused as he let out a few deep, almost guttural coughs.
"Pup? Is Ed feeling alright?" Roy asked in a quavering tone that did little to hide his growing anxiety as he tried his best to keep his own body from trembling as badly as his voice. Ed seemed not to hear him, though he let out a long moan before beginning to writhe feebly in their nest, shoulders rigid from fear as another wave of pain rippled through his body.
"E-Ed…d-doesn't feel…really g-good…" Was all Ed managed to whimper out before a sudden and intense panic lit up his clouded gaze and he desperately attempted to get to his paws. He was far too weak to even sit up on his own though and instead thumped down onto his elbows, his breathing irregular and hitching in his heaving chest while the muscles along his back and stomach spasmed violently.
Before Roy could say or do anything to try and calm his pup down Ed began to make a terrible gaging noise as his neck suddenly shot out and away from their nest, head hanging low as his shoulders hunched forward. A second too late Roy finally realized what was happening as his pup vomited onto the torn piece of blanket that'd been used earlier in a failed attempt to ease his fever. Bile dripped from Ed's lips as his already owlish eyes grew wider, lighting up with a mixture of pain and fear.
"E-Ed?" Roy immediately sat up to press against his trembling pup, helping to support his weight as another fierce wave of sickness rippled painfully through his frail form. With another horrible retching noise a mass of dull green escaped Ed's mouth and Roy immediately recognized what it was.
It was the herbs he had ingested only a few minutes earlier, and now they lay useless amongst the clear and watery bile as his pup continued to choke and gag. Roy wrapped his tail around his suffering pup's body as sorrow and a growing sense of dismay coursed through him. This was not a good sign at all…it seemed as though Ed was unable to keep down anything solid now…and if that truly was the case, then he didn't have much longer until…
"Relax, Ed, it will all be over soon. He will be just fine…" Roy whispered gently as Ed continued to dry heave, bringing up nothing but a thin line of saliva, having nothing left in his stomach to even throw up at that point. His pup's head only hung lower as he hacked up one final bit of bile, his weak body shuddering violently as a moan escaped his throat.
"R-Roy…" Ed's voice was rough and full of despair as he slumped heavily against Roy before sliding down to collapse into their shared nest, coming to rest on his side. His poor pup looked incredibly exhausted and so, so sick…and Ed seemed to know that he didn't have much longer as peace suddenly filled his wide and clouded gaze.
"Ed is going to be just fine…" Roy whispered as he pressed his muzzle fiercely against his pup's cheek, closing his eyes momentarily as his own anguish threatened to sweep him away. He was grounded by a trembling paw being place against his neck and Roy pulled back just enough to gaze deeply into those familiar golden eyes. "Roy and Ed will get through this…"
"Oh, Roy…" There was a deep sorrow to his pup's fragile tone as Ed's gaze began to grow more and more distant at an alarming rate, a sad smile parting his lips. Roy thought that his aching heart would shatter to pieces as Ed spoke up once more in a low and wavering voice. "Roy…w-whatever happens…don't b-be…afraid…"
"E-Ed? Ed!" Roy felt panic course though his very soul as his pup's eyelids closed and his once tense body suddenly went alarming limp. As Ed's paw slid down from his neck to land with a dull thud in the nest below and Roy immediately moved to place one of his own paws onto his pup's chest to make sure that he was still alive, fearing the worst.
The frail chest beneath Roy's trembling paw rose and fell unevenly as Ed drew in ragged breaths, still mercifully among the living. As his pup lay motionless, his fragile form partially splayed out on his side in their nest, Roy wondered just how much longer his beloved pup had to live. All of the symptoms Ed was currently showing meant that the infection raging through his weakened body was currently winning in this desperate battle between life and death…though for how much longer Ed could hold out, Roy couldn't tell.
"Ed? Can Ed hear Roy at all?" Roy asked in a low voice as he gently nudged his pup with his still outstretched paw, hoping to hear any sort of noise or see some movement to serve as an answer. Ed remained completely silent and unmoved though, not even a whimper or the flicker of an ear coming from the limp and feverish body.
"Pup…please…" He begged uselessly as he settled down next to Ed, sorrow coursing like broken glass through Roy's shattered heart when he realized that Ed was too far gone now to be reached. While his pup was not truly dead yet, he knew that the only thing capable of waking Ed, the only thing able to save him now, was actual treatment for his infection…something that Roy sadly could not supply. Until help arrived, if it ever did, Roy was on his own to take care of his slowly dying pup.
"Ed…please…please, he has to wake up…" Roy whimpered as he nuzzled lovingly at Ed's cheek, wishing with all his being that he could simply force some of his own wavering strength into the frail body before him. "Ed can't leave Roy on his own like this…Roy needs his pup…he…he can't do this without Ed by his side…"
Sadly accepting that he would get no answer of any sort, Roy decided that the best thing he could do in that moment was to keep Ed as comfortable as possible. He very gently and carefully maneuvered his pup's limp body so that Ed was lying in a better position, leaning heavily against Roy's side as he shielded his pup from the elements and partially buried him under the loose blankets of their nest in order to keep him warm.
Relieved to see that Ed looked to be more comfortable, lying like he usually had before the fever had stolen away his consciousness, Roy curled himself around his pup and rested his head forlornly atop Ed's neck. He could feel his pup's irregular breaths rustle softly through the fur of his chest, the sensation keeping Roy from howling his absolutely heart rending anguish aloud as tears pricked at the corner of his eyes.
"Roy knows that Ed can't hear him anymore…but Roy is here…and he always will be…Help will come soon…he promises…" Roy whispered wretchedly into his pup's soft fur before burying his muzzle deeply into Ed's thick mane of golden fur as he closed his eyes and allowed his once unshed tears to fall. Sorrow flowed through his entire being as Roy allowed himself to sob quietly against his unconscious pup, a low whimper of despair escaping his throat.
"Roy promises to keep his pup safe until then…he loves Ed very, very much and won't let anything h-hurt him again…" He softly sobbed as Roy felt his own grasp on consciousness loosening, his mind slowly starting to drift away into a blissful darkness. Knowing there was nothing much he could do for Ed now, and too disheartened to do anything else, Roy allowed the soothing shadows to claim him and whisk him away into an untroubled slumber.
Some new and interesting developments on Al's side, and it seems that Ed and Roy are in dire need of help...but will it come in time?
I'm super sorry that this chapter took so long to upload. There was a lot of stuff happening in my real life that prevented me from writing, but now that's all over with and I can go back to working on this story!
As for the next chapter I'm thinking it will be published sometime in October, again depending on what happens in my personal life. The only thing done of Chapter 19 is the summary, but I'll be starting work on the chapter when I can. I'll keep everyone updated on my profile here though.
Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and also for the favorites, follows, and reviews that have been given over the course of this story. This story is a big passion project for me, and I'm glad you all decided to tag along for it!
I'll see you all in the next chapter!
:3
