Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Wicked Dreams ( Chapter 23 )

`Til The Sun Shines

 

Chapter Twenty-Three

Wicked Dreams

 

`I haven't a clue as to how my story will end. But that's all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, you don't conclude that the road has vanished. And how else could we discover the stars?'

 

Alphonse hurried through the hospitals corridors, his path was familiar, he'd travelled it many times before. The familiar white washed walls were either side of him. Some of the nurses recognised him and waved, with a knowing glint in their eyes as to his hurried state. He finally arrived at the front desk and breathlessly asked the woman behind the counter where he'd been moved to. “We've been expecting you.” She said, with a cocky grin, opening a folder.

 

“Yeah, I know.” Alphons replied. “We had a major breakthrough with the rockets this morning; I was in the middle of testing it when you called.” He said a huge grin on his face.

 

“Today's a good day for you, isn't it Mr. Heiderich?” Alphons nodded.

 

“Definitely,” He agreed. She passed him a visitor's pass and he pinned it to his shirt with practiced ease, anticipation hung thick in the air.

 

“Oh, and Alphons?” The woman called as he turned and began hurrying to the stairs. He stopped and turned to face her, and she smiled, though it wasn't quite as happy as the one before. “You've got a doctor's appointment yourself after you're through visiting.” She reminded. Alphons nodded and turned around again.

 

“I'll be there.” He waved and began up the flight of stairs.

 

“No running!” He heard the nurse call after him and he grinned. He did slow down though when he felt the familiar scratch at the back of his throat, and he coughed a few times before starting the stairs again, this time going slower. He finally arrived at the floor he was searching for, and after glancing at the paper in his hand, he found the room that he was looking for.

 

Alphons stood in the doorway for a few minutes, watching as the patient's shaky hand lifted the fork to his mouth, and after chewing for almost a minute on the semi-solid food, he swallowed, somewhat painfully. “Come off it.” He said finally and the eyes turned to face him, a smile lighting up on the young man's face. “Hospital foods not that bad.” He laughed and lowered the fork.

 

“I just don't feel much like eating.” He explained, somewhat quietly.

 

Alphons frowned and headed over, sitting at a seat that was near the bed. “You've been in that coma for almost 2 and a half months now.” He said, taking the bread roll from the tray - “I haven't eaten.” - He protested. “We we're beginning to think…well, we weren't very optimistic.” He ventured instead.

 

The man looked down at the lunch tray as though something of incredible interest was hidden somewhere in the swirl of packet gravy. “I died Al.” He said quietly, and Alphons scoffed spitting bread all over him.

 

“Yeah, twice in surgery they told us.” He rolled his eyes. “You've always got to be the centre of attention, don't you Edward?” But Ed didn't answer with the normal playful banter; he continued to stare at the tray, finally lifting his eyes to meet Alphons. “Are you alright? Ignoring the fact that you just woke up from a Coma.” He asked concern in his voice, despite the joke.

 

Edward shook his head. “I'm just a little shaken is all,” He said, a poor excuse. “I had a really weird…dream.” He sighed and elaborated when Alphons merely stared at him. “I just…it felt so real,” He said, not looking at Alphons any longer. “Like I was there, you were there, like it had all happened and…I'd done…things.”

 

“Edward..?” Alphons asked uncertainty in his voice.

 

“Marian and I got married.” Ed said a laugh in his voice and he turned to Alphons with a fake grin on his face. “Married…we had a kid and everything and then…they died. And I thought you'd died but you hadn't you were in Amestris with Dad. And Al was there and Mustang and - and Winry and…it was wonderful but at the same time…so horrible.” He said in a rushed voice, “I felt so…bad like this horrible feeling had settled deep in my soul, and it was never going to go away. It's the worst I've felt since…that day…” He trailed off.

 

“But…it was just a dream, right?” Alphons said. “I don't understand you sometimes Edward. You go on about this other world, but no matter how true you say your story is, no matter how much I'm told it I just can't believe…that I'm so - that this entire world is so unimportant, so insignificant. It makes me feel unimportant and well…I'm not Edward. I'm real Edward, not just a part of your dreams. I care and I make mistakes, I don't know how long I'll live for, but I'll still be here.” He said, looking at Ed with eyes that gleamed with a deep pride. “I matter. I'm someone. I'm not unimportant, I'm not nobody.”

 

“I know that Al.” Ed replied, his brow furrowed and he chuckled slightly. “I can't explain it Alphons. Don't ask me to. But whether you choose to believe it or not, I don't belong in this world.” He picked up his fork and began to eat again, this time with much more ease. “I'm going to find a way Al. I'm going to go home.” He said it with such determination, that Alphons didn't say anymore and merely sighed, rolling his eyes. Ed finished his meal and the nurse came in to collect his tray. Alphons coughed suddenly and felt Ed's sharp eyes upon him.

 

“I'm alright.” Alphons said before Ed could say anything. The nurse gave him a meaningful look and Ed picked up on it.

 

“When are you going to do something about that? When are you going to admit it's a problem and when are you going to see a doctor?” He asked, somewhat angrily. “That's the reason my mother died, because she was sick and she didn't ask anyone for help. You can't have been sitting by my bedside for long yet even the nurses have noticed.”

 

Al smiled at him. “Calm down Ed, I've got an appointment after this.” He explained, and Ed relaxed, narrowing his eyes suspiciously but not saying anything further. His eyes drifted past Alphons and saw that Marian was heading down the hallway. Alphons waved at her and a smile lit up on her face.

 

“Edward!” She called, and it was then Ed noticed that Noa was behind her. He waved at the both of them, and Marian ran past Alphons and hugged Ed, causing his face to light up with a red blush.

 

Alphons laughed. “You're one of a kind Edward.” He said shaking his head. “One of a kind.”

 

&&&

 

It wasn't long before Ed was released from the hospital and life fell back into its usual pattern. It was during another trip to a carnival that Alphons and Edward met the man who would re-introduce them to Dietlinde Eckhart. Despite Alphons's protests Edward tried to help the woman achieve her goals, after all they were his own. But when the time came for the gate to be opened, he left her behind and travelled through it alone, leaving Alphons to stop others following him, and Hoenheim to destroy the gate.

 

As he flew past Noa and Marian in the rocket, he grinned at them and waved, before he was surrounded by the yellow glow of the Gate, and the tiny black creatures were clawing at the plane. But, thanks to the rocket attached to the tail, the plane was moving to fast for them to hold on and within moments, he was gone.

 

He burst, in a spectacle of energy, from the large suspended portal and the plane crashed into the far side of the city. “Ow, ow, ow, ouch.” He muttered, rubbing his head and using his shaky hands to lift himself up, quickly rising to close the gate incase something had gone wrong on the other side. However, just as he had begun to rise, the pressure on his artificial arm was too much and it crumpled under his weight. “Dammit.” He swore, getting up despite the broken arm and studying the mangled simple mechanics. He noticed that bits of it were missing…almost as though they had materialized into nothing. “Effing gate.” He cursed, and began moving towards the said gate in the distance.

 

He ran past one of the street alleys and heard someone call out. “Edward!” He stopped and turned, surprised beyond words to see Scheiska, staring at him in disbelief.

 

“Oh my god.” She said, “And to think I just came here to get some books.” She said her eyes wide and Ed couldn't help but laugh.

 

“Trust you, c'mon, I'm in a hurry.” He took off running again and after a moment Scheiska followed, calling after him to slow down. He clutched his arm, trying to keep it from falling apart when a thought occurred to him and he stopped in his tracks. Scheiska caught up to him, panting heavily, showing the fact that she was horribly unfit. He grabbed her arm with his one working one and gripped it lightly. “Alphonse?” He asked, and a smile spread across her face.

 

“He's fine.” She gasped, pressing a hand to his heart.

 

“Define `fine'.” Ed pressed the urgency in his voice obvious.

 

“He's in the rebuilt Lior, with Rose and Armstrong, last I heard anyway. He'd looking for you. He'd be 14 now.”

 

“14?” Ed questioned his brow furrowing, “But that's not right.” It was then that the two heard a loud sound from behind them and Ed remembered what he was doing. “Fine'll do well for the moment.” He said and left Scheiska behind once again. He reached the pavement that the large gate hung over and clapped his left hand to the one dangling from his right, pressing them to the floor and causing a pattern to light up with a brilliant blue flash, and suddenly the great doors began to close and the gate disappeared to the limbo that it had come from.

 

In the time Ed took resting from the effort of opening the gate, traveling through it and closing it again, Scheiska managed to catch up to him. “My god…” She panted. “You…can really…run.” Ed chuckled and then outright laughed, lying back on the ground his chest heaving. He sat up suddenly and hugged Scheiska, much to her surprise. “What?” She asked.

 

“Never change Scheiska.” He said. “Promise me you'll never change.” He let go and stood up, as well as he could with one arm, and looked in the direction of what he supposed was the exit. She stood up straighter.

 

“Where have you been Edward?” She asked. “I've been down here plenty of times, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis and Rose scoured the place. Where have you been hiding?”

 

“I haven't been hiding, Scheiska.” Ed replied. “I was…it's a long story, c'mon. I hate this place.” He looked around at the large city one more time before he remembered something. “Hey Scheiska?” he asked. “Did you say Al was 14?” She nodded.

 

“He was a ten year old boy with no memory of the years you two spent traveling when Rose found him.” Ed frowned. But that's exactly like I dreamt… he thought, and his eyes drifted to the large house that was just in the corner of his vision. “Edward?” Scheiska called when he suddenly changed his direction.

 

“I wonder…” Ed said, and jogged up to the house, opening the door, and heading up to the room where he'd first discovered the journal in his dream. And much to his surprise it was there. He lifted the black leather book and opened the draw to discover that the photo album was there, just as it had in his dream.

 

“Edward?” Scheiska asked coming up behind him. “This isn't our house.” She whispered. Ed smirked lightly.

 

“Alright, we'll leave; I just wanted to see something.” He kept the books clutched in his hands and finally the two of them made their way to the elevator that would take them to the surface. Ed leaned back against the wall of the machine as it took them up to the surface. “Finally.” He sighed, and Scheiska looked at him oddly, before smiling.

 

“Yeah,” She said softly. “You finally did it. It finally happened.” Ed shook his head.

 

“No,” He answered. “Finally, I can shove it in Mustangs smug face that he can't boss me around anymore.” He grinned, and missed the look on Scheiska's face.

 

&&& 

 

The streets of Central were as busy as Ed had remembered them to be, but he still knew their ways well and weaved his way through the people to the train station. “Edward, wait!” Scheiska called, still trailing after him. “I need to tell you something, about the Colonel.” Ed made a face, but turned around all the same. “Or I guess, I should say Corporal.” She said quietly.

 

“Corporal?” Ed questioned, “But that's…he was demoted?” Ed asked confusion in his voice. “But I thought he was…well that's what happened…” in my dream, like everything else has. He finished the sentence in his head, and Scheiska shook her head.

 

“After defeating the Fürher, Mustang refused to use alchemy anymore, so they demoted him to the rank of a Corporal and stationed him in a remote area up North. We hardly hear from him now…not even Hawkeye or Mrs. Hughes.” She looked back up at Ed. “Before you rush off to Lior can you come and see the rest of us here in Central.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “They're still in the office. It'd mean a lot to them Ed, and they could tell you where Al is. He was in Lior 2 months ago, and he doesn't stay places for long.” He thought about it for a moment and turned, heading in the direction of grand Central headquarters. “Thank-you.” She said quietly, falling into step beside him.

 

“Well, if it'll help me find Alphonse.” He said with a small smile, and they shortly arrived at HQ. However just as he and Scheiska were heading up the stairs, something, or someone, caught his eye. “Hey!” He yelled, startling Scheiska who turned to see what he was yelling at.

 

“Wow, I can't say I expected that.” She said spotting Al just leaving through the streets of Central and Havoc heading back inside, only to move back outside when she supposed Hawkeye told him not to smoke inside.

 

“Oi! Alphonse!” Ed yelled trying to get his younger brother's attention with his one arm. He managed to grab Hawkeye and Havoc's attention but Al hadn't noticed him yet. “TURN YOUR FAT HEAD AROUND ALPHONSE ELRIC!!!” He yelled and Havoc started to laugh, just as Al heard the shout turning around just in time to see Edward envelope him in a one-armed hug.

 

“Brother?” He asked uncertainly.

 

“No I'm god you dumbass, of course it's me. Who else is it going to be?” He asked sarcastically drawing back at last, and a large grin spread across his face. “I'm taller than you.” He stated and Al laughed. “And you stole my look?” He raised an eyebrow. “Ever heard of originality younger brother?”

 

“Oh, but you have such a good taste in fashion.” Al replied.

 

“Suck up,”

 

&&& 

 

Ed drew in a huge breath and let it out again. “There's no place like home.” He said, his eyes sweeping the green fields of Risembool.

 

“We should've told Winry we were coming.” Al complained. “I don't want to walk all that way.” He groaned.

 

“It's good for you.” Ed argued, beginning down the stairs and onto the dirt track that led to the Rockbell house. “At least you got rid of that stuffy coat, now it won't be so hot.”

 

“It's always hot.” They bickered with each other all the way to the Rockbell house until Den's barks interrupted their squabbles.

 

“Shut your yap, Den, I'm coming.” Ed couldn't help but hold his breath when he heard Granny Pinako's voice, after all, so many things had happened as they had in his dream that he couldn't help but worry that she wouldn't be there when he arrived. “Visitors?” She asked and Ed grinned.

 

“Yeah,” He called, “I'm here for some new automail. My last arm broke, and the one before that and the one before that was smashed into tiny little pieces, and y'see you guys are the only ones that'll put up with me coming back again and again.” He said, enjoying the look on Pinako's face as she opened the door and saw the two brothers, one missing an arm, standing there with suitcases by their sides.

 

“I knew it.” She grinned, her pipe stuck in her mouth as Ed always remembered it to be. Her gaze softened and she opened the door. “Well come on in, and we'll see what we can do about that arm of yours. Winry!” She called, “Customers!”

 

“Coming!” Winry called, and they could hear the sound of her footsteps rushing down the stairs. “Alphonse?” She asked as she saw the figure of the younger brother, but stopped in her tracks as she entered the room. Her breath caught in her throat but she managed to choke out “Edward?” He grinned.

 

“Long time, no see.” He said and just as he finished the sentence she rushed forward and hugged him. However, he pushed her back and instead, and pressed their lips together. Her eyes opened wide and Pinako whacked his one arm roughly with her pipe.

 

“Hey, you hooligans. I'll have none of that while I'm in the room thank-you.” She said a grin on her face nonetheless, and the two of them drew back. “Now about that arm. I believe Winry already has one made for you.”

 

“You broke my arm?” Winry asked angrily, her demeanor changing in a span of a short few seconds. “How many times have I told you to look after it?” She said, and Ed raised his arm in mock defense.

 

“Al lost it.” He defended, and Winry turned on him.

 

“I did not!” Al replied quickly, trying to turn the enraged woman's attention away from him.

 

“He did too he just doesn't remember.” Ed said. “Look, you can't procrastinate on it now, it's lost forever and you can make another beautiful `masterpiece'.” Ed said quickly before anyone could say anymore.

 

Winry grinned. “I knew it was gone,” She admitted, and Ed opened his mouth to say something but she interrupted him. “It's just fun watching you sweat.” The grin turned semi-evil and she picked up a screwdriver. “So the arm and leg are made, when do you want to do the surgery?”

 

&&&

 

Later that night they were all sitting in the lounge room, Winry was still fuming about the fact that he didn't need the leg anymore, due to the fact that Ed had received back what he lost when he destroyed the homunculus Sloth. Rose had joined them and Ed was recounting stories of their travel to the ever patient Al, who would screw up his face trying to remember details that were merely foggy shapes in his mind. Ed opened up his suitcase and brought out the books that he'd gotten from the underground city placing them in front of Al and opening up the photo album. “Do you know who that is?” He asked, pointing at a photo of their father back when he was much younger.

 

“That looks like…Dad.” He said, looking up at Ed, “Where'd you get this?” He asked, but Ed didn't answer, instead pointing out a different photo, one of Dante. Al thought for a moment, and then slowly answered. “Lyra?” He asked.

 

“Sort-of.” Ed answered. “That woman's 400 years old, she looks like Lyra. Her names Dante.” He explained and a faint look of recognition passed across Al's face.

 

“Wasn't she the person controlling the homunculus?” He asked and Edward nodded.

 

“She was also teachers' teacher. The symbol that Teacher has tattooed on her collarbone is the Elric family crest.” He pointed out another photo before Al could ask any questions. “Who's that?” He asked.

 

“He looks like…you.” Al answered, studying the picture. “I know him…” He said. “That was…Envy. And he was actually…I remember.” Al said, and the others in the room stared at him in a lesser form of wonder. “Dad tried to…oh my god.” He said and the memories returned to him slowly but surely. He raised his eyes to meet Edwards. “He's our half-brother.”

 

&&&

 

Humankind cannot gain anything, without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost, that is Alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth…

 

But the whole world can't be based on a single assumption; it's much too complicated to be able to explain in such a simple sentence. Sometimes we give but don't get, sometimes we get but haven't given. The world is equivalent in its own way, sometimes it's generous, and sometimes it's cruelly unjust.

 

We made a grave for the half-brother we'd never known, and we merely put `Elric' for the name. Shortly after brother had the surgery for his arm we went and visited Colonel Mustang. Brother said it was so he could rub in his face that he ranked higher than him, but I know he was trying to cover up a deeper respect. Right now, I believe Mustang is approaching the higher ups to receive his old position and his old team.

 

Brother quit the military and after visiting teacher's grave, suggested that we take a holiday to Drachma. I'm not sure if I quite liked the look on his face but we're on the train now. Granny and I left brother and Winry alone to their make-out session. Yuck.

 

Its strange being in a 15 year old's body, but having the mind of a 19 year old. Brother just recently turned 21 and quit his job at the military. I know the others were disappointed but Edward accomplished his goal, our goal, and he doesn't like the idea that he could be called away to war. We're working on re-building our old home, but are obviously taking a break while everything gets back to normal - or as normal as everything can get.

 

And me - well I'm happy. I'm content. Brother and I realise now that what we tried to do with Mom wasn't necessarily a mistake, because we've met so many people and have grown closer, but that it wasn't the best path to stray down. But now, we're finally able to move on, and I, for one, couldn't be happier.

 

I think that everything's going to be alright.

 

&&& 

`After all is said and done, a lot more would've been said than done.'

&&&

 

The End

 

A lot of you seemed to be under the impression that this story finished last chapter. Weren't you all curious about the whole `OMG someone was in a car crash' thing that was sort of randomly there? I was gonna kill of Ed, but I didn't. Not couldn't, didn't. Well this is the end of my story, readers and co. Although I don't know who `co.' would be… I'd like to say I'm getting teary, but I'm not. But speaking of teary-causing things…Rove's wife died!! All the Australians are dying! Like Steve Irwin, and Peter Brock, and now Belinda McManus and that girl down at the jetty 2 nights ago and that guy who got beat up at that party!!...*reads back on that* Wow, 2 deaths in like a month. I don't want to live in my neighbourhood anymore. They were like down the road. My friend told me yesterday night at my other friends dress-up party. I went as a man. And it was funny cuz one chicks like “who's he” and then she realised it was me lol.

 

Misa92: Nooo!!! I couldn't kill off Havoc; he's like one of my favourite characters. Well it's over now. And actually yes, I have like 3 other stories in mind, just having problems putting them down. Lol, I have 1 chapter for each. Other than that I've been concentrating on this so now I have more free time and the 7 week holidays are approaching. I want the movie…stupid borders doesn't stock it yet.

 

Phe: I wasn't invited to your funeral?! I'm hurt. Nah I'm just messing with you, OMG I got my whole family trying to say `toy boat' and it didn't work!!! I keep stuffing it up and then I laugh at them when they do. Wow he came back alive…just like you said, well technically he never died but that's not the point. Well, thanks 4 being my first reviewer since I started this etc. etc. sweet see you.

 

Uniasus: Dude it's not over!! Okay……..now. Lol. Yes! Go write that one I'm reading! I command you! I gotta go pack my bag for my friends house cuz she's having a dress-up party, don't know what to go as…hmm. Well I have a red coat…lol nah its black. OMG I should go as Darth Vader cuz Hayden Christenson is hot! Lol. (I wrote that yesterday and wrote this bracket today, in case you were wondering about the different time zone your comment and the author notes are in lol)

 

Mesai: Wooh thanks. That was a really high reviewy thing! I feel special.

 

Tamaria: Dude my sisters wouldn't listen to anything I say if I tried to get them to like stuff, seriously I've tried.