Welcome to the turning point of the story! We've reached rock bottom, and the only way to go now is up... but not before we see the absolute worst of the worst *evil laugh*. We've got a family with good intentions but bad execution, and a boy who's all but dead... until a certain man comes and snaps him out of it.

Enjoy!

(Update 11/5/22: edited chapter with improvements)

(Update 2/23/23: fixed dashes and hyphens)

(Update 8/8/23: mass update!)

(Update 9/25/24: mass update!)

Ch 7: The Living Dead

There comes a time when intervention is necessary.

Pinako has been dealing with Ed's progressive deterioration for a week now, and is not going to let it go on any longer. Especially not after the conversation Al told her about yesterday...So, she makes Ed get out of bed and brings him to the family room, where Alphonse and Winry are already waiting.

Granny had explained to them what she was going to do, and neither of them were happy with it. Both Winry and Al have been distraught with Edward's behavior as of late, but they don't want to upset him further. This idea only has two possible outcomes—either it snaps Ed out of it, or it pushes him over the edge once and for all.

"What are we doing?" Edward asks irritably as he takes in the family seated in the room. That's good; any emotion in his voice is better than none.

"We're worried about you, Brother," Al says quietly.

Ed's expression flashes into fear for a moment before going back to anger, but not before Pinako catches his slip-up. "I already told you, don't be."

"Ed, Al is right. We know something's wrong with you," Winry adds.

Ed looks at her in fiery disbelief. Did she actually just say that? "Damn right something's wrong with me! I'm missing my freaking arm and leg!" He throws his blanket to the floor, uncovering the stump of his left leg.

Winry's lip trembles, and Pinako folds her arms. "Watch your mouth, Ed," she scolds.

"I'll say whatever I want! You're the one who brought me in here, you maniac baby!"

Pinako ignores the insult. Edward is talking, and that's more than she's gotten in days. If she lets him get his frustration out, maybe it'll be for the best.

"We...we just want to help," Winry tries again, voice meek.

"Well, I don't want any more help!" Ed shouts, hiding his face in his hand. "I'm tired of it! I'm tired of this damn chair, and this damn house, and you damn people doing every damn thing for me! I'm tired of living like this!"

"Brother…" Al says quietly, voice sounding heartbroken.

Ed's gaze shifts to Al, and his anger entirely dissipates. He fights the emotion swirling behind his eyes and purses his lips, willing himself to keep calm. Al's static expression offers no clues as to what he's thinking, and it just upsets Ed more.

Because it's all his fault.

A sudden wave of terror overtakes Ed. What does Al think of him? He can't eat, or sleep, or feel anything anymore, and it's all Ed's fault. He wouldn't be surprised if his little brother hates him now. Ed wouldn't blame him.

Any words that might have been said freeze in Ed's throat. He wants to ask Al; he wants to ask him so bad. But he can't, because he's afraid of the answer. Ed blinks, willing the tears in his eyes to clear.

"We're not mad at you, Ed," Pinako says. "We're doing this because we love you."

He feels trapped, cornered. Even more than usual. He wishes so badly he could maneuver the wheelchair on his own, and wonders if he could simply throw himself on the floor and start crawling. He almost does; what's dignity, anyway?

But instead, he lets anger take over again. It's always been the best mask for emotion, after all. "Just shut up! All of you. I don't need to hear this!"

"Ed…" Winry starts.

"I can't believe you three!" Edward interrupts. "Treating me like this...like I'm some kind of lunatic...I hate it!"

The three interventionists look on with palpable sadness, and it just burns into Ed more. He squeezes his eyes shut.

"Please, Granny. Let's just eat lunch," Ed says softly, and Pinako can't make him do it any longer.

What a pushover she's become.

…

In the day since their failed intervention, Winry has been seriously contemplating trying her own method of help. She's been watching Ed closely, and has become convinced what he really needs is a wake up call. All of Grandma's gentle suggestions and handholding did nothing, nordid her tough love. It's made Winry think the only option left might be outright force.

All throughout their childhoods, the Elrics have been idiots. And how did she get them to stop being idiots? A stern talking to and a well placed wrench, of course! It's the only way to get through such thick skulls that refuse to confide in her otherwise. And of the two, Ed has always had the thicker skull...

When Winry finishes her chores for the day, she marches up to Edward, placing her hands on her hips. As has been the case since the intervention, he ignores her presence. Not today, mister. Winry clears her throat, knocking her fist against his forehead like she's waiting for him to answer the door. "Ed-waaard," she says, sing-song. "I'm talking to youuuu."

He reaches up to push her hand away, but otherwise doesn't move. She just starts poking his chest instead. "I've got something to say to you. And it's true whether you like it or not, so listen up. You're acting like a baby, and it's time you stop it." Still, he doesn't react beyond a slight narrowing of the eyes. "Stop pretending like nothing matters. Me and Al and Grandma are all still here, and we're gonna look after you no matter what. It's been over a month; you've got no reason to be wallowing in self pity anymore." She's not entirely sure if she even believes her own words, but he needs something harsh to snap him back to reality.

Ed still doesn't respond, and Winry growls in frustration. Why is he doing this? It's like he enjoys annoying her..."Edward, seriously. Stop ignoring me." She gives him a sideways glance. "I know you're just trying to annoy me." Even as she says it, she can't help but wonder if he's not doing it out of spite. No...Ed has always been like this with her; he's always ignored her because he thinks it's funny. This is just another act. It has to be. "Grandma said you refused her offer to make you a new leg. That's pretty selfish, isn't it? We have to look after you a lot more this way because you can't move yourself. All because you're too prideful to try walking."

Normally, Ed would have never let her get this far, not without throwing his own insults, at least. She usually only needs one hearty swing and a brilliant line of scolding before he snaps out of it. Winry grabs his face and turns it toward her. "Are you even listening? This is the problem I'm talking about!"

Ed's eyes only meet hers for a second before he looks away. He tries to pull away for a moment, but when it becomes clear she's not letting go, he stops struggling. And that really confuses Winry. Ed never lets her win, not without a fight. But he's not even trying to escape this situation, like he did just a day ago during the intervention. Edward Elric doesn't just give up.

Maybe something there really is more wrong with him than she thought. She probably knew that…she just didn't want to believe it. Winry tilts her head, but Ed still won't meet her eyes. "Ed?" she asks softly, the ice in her voice having melted.

But still, he offers not a sign that he heard.

…

Talking to Edward has become akin to talking to a dead person. In the week since his last stitches came out, he's practically become a living corpse. As much as he cried in those first few weeks, he's gone entirely dry now. He hardly eats, never talks, and has entirely given up on life.

Everyone can feel it. Alphonse and Winry spend as much time as possible out of the house because they don't want to be around Edward anymore. His depression is so palpable that the other three inhabitants in the house can almost feel it clinging to them like wet clothes. Pinako can't blame them for wanting to leave.

When Ed wakes in the afternoon, he no longer protests when Al gets him out of bed and takes him to the living room. That's the best place for him because then Pinako can keep an eye on him from any of the main living spaces. Not that there's much to watch; Ed hasn't picked up a book in almost two weeks, and seems to just be stuck in his thoughts, staring out the window with blank eyes.

Pinako is extremely worried. She's never dealt with a patient so depressed before, let alone one who's practically her grandson. He's lost a lot of weight, which he didn't have much of to begin with, but is still eating only about one meal every three days. His eyes and cheeks are sunken in, clothes suddenly two sizes too big, skin and hair dull and pale. If this doesn't change soon, Pinako will have no choice but to put his feeding tube back in. He hasn't gotten dressed in six days and hasn't bathed in four. Any words she says to him seem to go in one ear and out the other. The only person who can get any kind of reaction out of him anymore is Alphonse, but even then, Ed hasn't said an actual word to him in two days.

It's killing her to watch.

After the half a slice of bread he accepts for dinner, and after he's back in bed and Pinako can finally let her guard down, Winry comes into her grandmother's room. The eleven-year-old sits beside Pinako on the edge of the bed, hands clasped in her lap.

"What are we gonna do about Ed?" she asks softly.

"I don't know, Winry," Pinako answers; she really doesn't know.

"I'm really worried about him."

"So am I."

"That's all Al has been talking about. How useless he feels around Ed. He wants to help, and so do I, but nothing is working." Winry sniffles, wiping tears off her cheeks. "Is he gonna be like this forever?"

"I don't know, Winry," Pinako repeats. She desperately hopes he'll get better. He never allowed himself to mourn the loss of his mother six years ago, and she thinks that's one of the biggest things killing him right now. He's become so focused on his guilt, he's not letting himself mourn anything, not his mother, or Alphonse's body, or his own lost limbs. He said it himself; he feels like he doesn't deserve any kindness, including kindness to himself.

"I don't know if I can do this much longer, Grandma," Winry whispers, voice choked with tears. "I want the old Ed back. I want both of them back…"

Pinako pulls Winry close, holding the girl tight as she shakes with sobs. The old woman fights back her own tears; she wants them back too. More than anything in the world, for God's sake, she just wants them back.

...

For days, the phone has been ringing. It was only answered twice, first by Pinako, and second by Winry.

Pinako hung up the moment the man made himself known to be military. Winry listened longer, learning his name was Lieutenant-Colonel Roy Mustang, and he was looking for one Van Hohenheim. When she told Pinako this, the woman was concerned. Why would the military be looking for the boys' father? And why would they call her house to do it?

She asks Alphonse if he knows anything about this. He doesn't, but he mentions some letters he and Edward sent their father after he left and their mother got sick. Edward stopped after Trisha's funeral, but Alphonse had been sending them right up to the brothers' stay in Dublith.

So that's how they got word, at least. But it doesn't explain why this Mustang character would be calling her. She doesn't tell the children anything else, and leaves them to their obliviousness.

Four days of consecutive phone calls later, and they receive a knock on the door. Pinako answers it, revealing a man and woman in military uniforms. She goes to close it, but the man pushes right through, eyes searching wildly around the house. They fall on Edward and Alphonse.

He marches up to her adoptive grandson, pulling him up by the shirt. "We went to your house, we saw the floor—what was that? What did you do?!"

Ed looks down, and Al answers for him. "We're sorry. We didn't mean it. We're sorry."

The soldier blinks. "Wait, are you—"

"Excuse me!" Pinako yells. "You going to tell me what the hell you're doing in my house? Put my grandson down, can't you see he's injured?"

The soldier seems to realize what he's doing, and sets Ed back in his chair. He clears his throat. "Apologies," he says tersely, readjusting the collar of his jacket. "My name is Lieutenant-Colonel Roy Mustang, a State Alchemist in Eastern Command. This is Second Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. We were advised to sort out rumors of a highly skilled alchemist in this town, after some letters to a Mr. Van Hohenheim surfaced. That led us to two brothers named Elric. We found the location the brothers were said to live, and were told they could be found here. But...these are children…" he trails off. "What happened?" he demands.

Pinako purses her lips, but Alphonse speaks before she can stop him. "You found our letters to Dad?"

Mustang looks at the armor. "Van Hohenheim is your father?"

"Yeah. He's been gone for six years."

"Hush, Alphonse," Pinako says gently. She doesn't trust these soldiers one bit, especially now that she knows one is a State Alchemist.

"Did you say Alphonse?" Mustang asks. "That's one of the names we were given for the Elric brothers."

Pinako mentally kicks herself. She can't hide them now; might as well get on the man's good side. "Alphonse and Edward Elric." She gestures to each respective boy. "Been family since they were born." She emphasizes the last part, so Mustang knows she'll fight for them if she has to.

Mustang looks at the two boys. "I didn't believe our chauffeur when he told me the Elrics were children."

"Edward is eleven and Alphonse is ten." Mustang looks confusedly at Al, and Pinako can see the questions brewing in his mind. "What exactly did you see at their house, Lieutenant-Colonel?" she asks carefully.

"A transmutation circle," Mustang says tersely. "And a lot of blood."

Al whimpers. "We didn't mean it, sir...we—we just wanted our mom again!"

Pinako sighs; the cat's out of the bag now.

Mustang's gaze narrows. "Edward. Alphonse," he says, his tone deadly serious. "Did you commit the taboo?"

"You don't have to tell him anything, boys," Pinako says, but Edward surprises her, speaking for the first time in six days.

"Yes," he says.

"You lost limbs. And your brother…" Mustang looks back at Al.

"A bloodseal," Ed says.

"You bonded a soul to armor?"

"In exchange for my arm."

Mustang blinks. "Soul bonding isn't even understood by most alchemic scholars. It's widely believed to just be a theory."

"But Brother did it," Al says. He reaches up and takes his helmet off, leaning down to show the soldiers the rune inside. "With his leg already gone, he gave up his arm to bring my soul back."

Mustang looks at the seal, his gaze drifting back to the broken little boy in the wheelchair. "Second Lieutenant, wait in the other room."

"Yes, sir," she says, then salutes and leaves the kitchen.

"Let's all have a seat," the Lieutenant-Colonel says. He takes a chair at the table, and, disgruntled, Pinako does too. She lights her pipe; she's going to need it. Al moves Ed to the table and stands behind him; he's not going to leave his brother's side. "Well, this is a surprise to say the least. I heard reports there was a brilliant alchemist living in this town so I came to check him out. The last thing I expected to find was a boy skilled enough to attempt human transmutation, or advanced enough to bond a soul to a suit of armor. I'd say he's more than qualified to become a State Alchemist."

Pinako feels her blood boil; so that's why they're here. To make her grandson into one of their dogs…The audacity. Somehow, that's even worse than if they'd come to arrest him for performing forbidden alchemy.

"Should he choose to accept the position, he'll be required to serve the military in times of national emergency. In return, he'll receive privileges and access to otherwise restricted research materials. Given time, he may be able to find a way to get their bodies back...maybe more."

Pinako silently curses; that's a dirty trick. If there's one thing that could possibly entice Edward, it's the idea of bringing Alphonse back to flesh and blood. So, she adds her own two cens to the conversation, smacking her pipe on its ashtray. "Right after they came stumbling to my door, half dead and covered in blood, I went over to their house to see for myself what had happened. What was there...whatever that thing was, it wasn't human! Alchemy created that abomination—it nearly killed them! And you want to throw those boys headlong into it? Would you really have them go through that kind of hell again?" She looks at the boys again, and Edward's position startles her. He's as emotionless as ever, eyes dead and focused on nothing in particular, but his fingers are curled loosely on his armrest, twitching with longing. He's thinking about it.

"I'm not forcing him," Mustang continues. "I'm merely offering him the possibility." He directs his next words at Ed. "Will you sit in that chair, wallowing in self pity? Or will you stand up and seize the chance the military can give you?"

Pinako wants this man out of her home, for feeding his poison to children. But she also sees something stirring in Ed's eyes that she hasn't seen since that awful day, and it simultaneously worries and relieves her.

"If you believe the possibility exists for getting your bodies back, you should seek it out, keep moving, whatever it takes...even if the way ahead lies through a river of mud."

Ed's fingers grip down and he sets his jaw ever so slightly, and Pinako knows that's it. He's made up his mind. Mustang sees this too, smirking slightly before standing and calling for his partner. Winry comes out with her, and everyone but Edward goes out onto the front porch.

Mustang hands Pinako a phone number. "I hope to keep in touch."

She closes her fist around the piece of paper, saying nothing. The soldiers leave, and Winry and Al sit on the steps, talking softly. Pinako goes back inside, looking at where they left Ed. She makes her way to him, and her heart both sinks and soars. Ed's eyes are focused again for the first time in weeks, and she can see the passion he'd lost slowly rekindling. She knows his next words before they even leave his lips.

"Granny…" he looks at her, determined and nothing like the boy he was that very morning. "I'm gonna need some automail."

And Edward has finally turned a corner, and found a reason to live again. The Rockbells never had anything but good intentions, but Ed was ultimately the only person who could dig himself out. And now that he has, what's in store for them all?

I hope you'll stick with me and find out! This story has only just begun :D