Eldest Elric

The Basement

For the next few days we clean, eat, and play. I had showed him all of the rooms in the house and we go to Pinako's. Jenner likes to play with Den and I catch up to Winry on Auto-Mail.
Edward should be around eleven-years-old and Alphonse should be ten-years-old. Time flies. It is hard to believe I'm thirteen-years-old. Tonight is the one night I let Jenner stay the night with Pinako. Winry and him seemed to have bonded over Auto-Mail and he feel asleep. Things aren't so tense any more with Jenner around. Pinako suggested I go home and have a relaxing night alone. Jenner can never be a handful, I'm just not use to caring for him by myself.
As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew something was happening. There was a buzzing feeling in the air as I froze. Something in my head screamed danger when I heard noises from the basement. My feet moved with speed I hadn't known I had and I was down the stairs as yelling began. They were in pain.
It brought back memories of my Ishbalan friends as I landed and the cement ground. I was too late. For what? The sight of the transmutation on the ground made me sick to my stomach as the creature reached to someone. Edward. He's missing a leg and yelling for Alphonse. Was Alphonse here?
My mind clicked the pieces together and I couldn't believe it. My little brothers tried to bring our mother back. I hurried to the suit of armor in the corner. If I can't save a little girl, I will save my baby brother. No matter the cost. "Edward!" I shouted to the hysterical boy and he looked at me. He wasn't mad. No, he was afraid. I laid the armor down and looked to the small boy, "We need to get Alphonse back. I... I can't do alchemy." My jaw clenched. I can't tell them.
They will know I'm so different. Father said no matter what, the soldier was something I couldn't control. My mind was in blind rage. Now, I'm focused and in control as I wrote the soul binding with Edwards blood. "Y-Yeah. I got it." He seemed in pain at the missing limb, but he still did it. This was not something I wanted my brother to do. Not in a million years. Never. Yet, he would have done it anyway. Edward didn't want to lose anyone else and I can't watch him 24/7. I would rather be here to support him instead of letting him do this alone. Alphonse will be more upset.
The boy had brought back his soul and it seemed all right. As right as it could ever be. Everything will be alright again as we help Edward. Alphonse says nothing to me as we run to Pinako's. I'm faster than him and barge right in. "Pinako!" I yell for the woman as Alphonse rushed in from the rain that started.
Blood was everywhere as Winry and Pinako went to work on Edward. I sat next to Alphonse against the wall. "It's great to see you again, Alphonse." My sigh and tired face did nothing to make my words heavy. A chocked sob echoed from the armor and I looked to the boy trapped in the suit. His metal arms wrapped around me and felt freezing cold, "Sister!" His voice sounded so worried and upset.
My hand rubbed the metal back, knowing he couldn't feel it, but because it's the thought that counts. "Shh... It's going to be okay Alphonse... I'm going to fix this mess the best I can... Don't worry." Even though I said the most comforting things I knew, he still cried. The rain made it look like real tears and I let him cry. No tears came from me. This is a scary situation, but they are alive. I am already forming a plan in my mind.
Maes once told me that Roy was the best talker and he would help me. Edward may never listen to me about my plan.
Should I give Roy a visit? I didn't know him, but Maes spoke highly of the wifeless man. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try. If my brother is anything like me, he will need it. Edward and I have the small problem of giving up before the real battle begins.
I stayed up with Alphonse all night and check on Edward. Jenner was up early the next morning. He ran to my lap and gave me a big hug, "Good-Morning, Momma." He yawned slightly and I smiled at him. Jenner looked to Alphonse, who looked back. It was quiet. "Sister! When did you get a kid?!" His words were loud and his arms waved wildly. I laughed and Jenner spoke, "Are you Edward or Alphonse?" His innocent question made my baby brother back some. I sighed and hugged Jenner's back to me, "That's Alphonse. Al, this is Jenner." My introduction made Jen smile.
Al still seemed confused, "You have a kid?" The question was still on his mind and I rolled my eyes playfully. The smaller boy giggled some and answered, "Not by blood, silly! She raised me." I couldn't restrain the hug and dotting words of how cute he was. Jen giggled more as I tickled him. Then, he looked around, "Where's Edward?" Jen looked innocently curious about the brother I told him of.
Alphonse stopped moving around. Was he thinking about what happened? I sighed and leaned back into the wall, "Edward and Alphonse got hurt. Pinako and Winnie are helping Ed right now." I answered for Alphonse. There was no need to explain Human Transmutation to a four-year-old. Jenner looked worried, "Is Edward going to be with Lord Ishbala?" His big red eyes looked sad and I smiled. "Of course not! He's my little brother and my brothers are strong, Jenner." My words were true as I thought of Edward when he was younger.
It was silent now as Jenner played with my fingers in thought. A quiet four-year-old made me worry some, "What are you thinking of now, Jen-Jen?" I asked him, aware of Alphonse watching us in his own thoughts. "Are we going to leave now?" Jenner asked quietly. He seemed upset with the fact that we are going to be leaving so soon. I sighed, "Yeah. After we see Maes's friend." My words made Al look directly at me. I smiled some and looked over his new body.
He can never eat, sleep, of feel anything against his new 'skin'. My baby brother is in so much pain at the thought. I am in pain at the thought. That's why I need to speak with Mustang. If anything, State Alchemists have the most research books and connections. So, if Ed becomes a State Alchemist, he can fix his own mess. I'm just giving him a push in the best direction. Edward would eat up with guilt and self-hate before he thinks of this and I need to help before I leave again.
We all stood up when the door opened and Pinako stepped out. "He's stable." She said loudly and sounded some-what annoyed. I smiled to her and ruffled Jen's hair,"Told you so." He stuck his tongue at me and I laughed at him.
Now, time to put my plan in action. Spending a whole day with them wouldn't help me leaving. "Alright, we need to pack Jen." I said as I stretched. The smaller boy pouted at me and Pinako sighed, "Off again so soon?" She sounded slightly stressed at the situation at hand. I smiled, "After visiting that friend of a friend. I will stop by for our bags later. Tomorrow, it will be done." I had noticed that it was dark outside. Yep, I need to get my plan in motion tomorrow.
My eyes went to Jen, "Do you mind if he stays here again, Pinako?" Jen didn't know of the mess in the basement and the house smelt of burnt flesh. The small granny gave a short nod. Alphonse turned to me, "Um... Sister?" He is so cute when he's shy. I smiled to him and he continued, "Could you get some of Brother's things from the house. I'm sure he'll want his own clothes. It's all still packed in the... basement." Al sounded so sad and hesitant as he spoke of the room that will haunt him.
I swallowed some, "Sure, Al. Anything you need or want?" Asking him for clothes seems stupid, but he may have a book or something. The trapped boy shook his head. So, I started the walk to the home that held a disturbing body. That thing wasn't our mother and I will make sure of it. I need to see if my brother's brought her back and killed her again. The thought made me ground my teeth.
The house felt dead inside. It hurt to move in there as I grabbed the need things. Finally, I went to the basement. This was my moment of truth. The thing in the middle of the circle didn't move. Was it dead? My feet moved to the gory scene. Edward lost his leg here. Alphonse lost his whole body. Just to make this creature that died instantly. It wasn't my mother. I could tell from here that the hip bone is male.
It's too large and narrow to be female. Even covered in blood, I could tell you that much. The hand was reaching out to nothing now. Should I tell Edward this? No. How do you think he will feel knowing he lost so much for the wrong soul? Edward will be so mad and I think I should tell him when he gets older. When he is able to understand life more. It will stay my secret and I will get rid of the evidence.
With that in mind, I dug a hole by our tree. I did that for the rest of the night. "So, this is what you were doing." Pinako's voice came from behind me as I finished burying. I smiled to her some and set the shovel down. "Pinako, do you think they will ever forgive me?" Now, my smile was gone. That is the question I had wanted to ask for so long now. It lingered in my mind and I feared the answer. She was quiet for a moment as she took a puff from her pipe, "Yes, I believe they will. You're the sister that looks just like their mother, them boys won't stay mad forever." I stood up and brushed away any sadness. She's right. They are my brothers and will eventually forgive me.
At least, that's the best I could hope for. Rays of sunlight came as the new dawn arrived at last. This is the day I make my move.