Stand Up and Walk

Come Home Early Today

"I still have too long a life ahead to get rid of these feelings, right? I want to try doing over the things I've left undone. I thought I was running after something carried over from my dreams, yet I'm stumbling into people on this narrow, winding road. It's not like I want to go back to the way things were back then; I'm just searching for the sky I've been losing. Here's hoping you'll understand. Stop making that sad face as though you were a victim. Sins don't end in tears; you have to carry the pain forever. Who am I waiting for in this maze of emotions with no way out in sight? I want to purge myself more simply, as if writing in a blank notebook. What is it I want to escape from? ...Is it reality? It makes me want to scream that we're alive for things to come true. Can you hear me? I can't put up with playing it safe. ...I've got nowhere to go home to! I'm always grateful for kindness; that's why I want to grow stronger (I'm on the way). I even welcome this pain for the things I miss."
—Yui, Again

...

"Well," Ed says hesitantly, holding up a crude drawing of Envy, the man from the Fifth Laboratory. "The last thing I remember was this guy kickin' me."

Armstrong and Maes scratch their chins thoughtfully, examining the sketch. "It's odd that he let you live," the Major remarks lowly. "And what about the 'sacrifice' and these other armored souls?"

"Not to mention the ouroboros tattoos and the transmutation circle," Maes adds, peering over at a pile of other sketched-out images of the inside of the Fifth Laboratory. "And Doctor Marcoh claims that they were using the Philosopher's Stones in Ishval..."

"Every clue we have to work with seems to lead to its own mystery."

Maes nods grimly. "Nothing we can do about that, though. Any answers we might have found are under a ton of rubble back in the Lab." He holds up the drawing of the tattoo that the strange people had both shared. "I'll run a search and see if I can find priors on anybody with an ouroboros tattoo."

"Very good," the Major agrees, taking the paper from the smaller man. "And while you do that, I'll continue looking into the research team that was working with Doctor Marcoh in Ishval."

Before their conversation can continue, there is a knock at the door. All of you turn to look at the door. Much to your surprise, it swings open to reveal Führer King Bradley himself. "Sorry to interrupt," he says cheerfully.

All of you stare at the man in shock. Hastily, Maes and Armstrong raise an arm to salute him. "Führer Bradley!" the Major stammers; "Your Excellency!"

Bradley raises a hand and smiles. "Calm down, gentlemen," he says calmly. "This is just an informal visit."

"Yes, sir," Maes says, bowing slightly at the waist as the Führer walks over to the hospital cot that you and Ed are currently sharing. "But if I may ask the occasion?" he continues.

"These young folks," the Führer says, staring intently into first your eye, and then into Ed's. "You two are injured. I thought a nice melon might cheer you up." Bradley holds up a woven basket with a pink ribbon around the handle, a large, ripe green melon in the cradle.

The Führer hands the basket to Ed, who accepts it hesitantly. You both blink at the melon, slightly confused. "I guess...?" Ed says doubtfully. You elbow him hard in the ribs, and then he stiffens quickly, remembering to whom it is that he is talking. "Thank you, Sir!!" he shouts.

Bradley examines the two of you for a moment before he speaks again. "I understand that you have been checking up on some of the senior staff," he says. "Is this true, Major Armstrong?"

Behind him, the large man looks perplexed. "Yes, Sir," he replies haltingly. "But, uh...how did you know I was—?"

Bradley cuts him off. "You should know that nothing gets past me, Major," he says lowly. He turns his gaze back to you and Ed. "And now you, my Smokebomb and Fullmetal Alchemists." His lone, blue-green eye scrutinizes you viciously as his voice lowers an octave. "Tell me what you know about the Philosopher's Stone. And I hope for your sake that you don't know too much."