Every Visit Counts | FMA

Chapter 3

Brothers Before the Grave

Your POV

[Resembool, Amestris, you and Ed are 10]

You couldn't stop the tears from streaming down your face, as you watched the Elric Brothers mourn from afar. 

Oh Trisha... Your thoughts wandered to the deceased woman, a woman you would daresay call a mother. Then, they wandered to something worse.

How it happened.

~*~

Edward was racing ahead of you, running as fast as he could. You stumbled with the basket in your hands, as Alphonse was doing behind you. Edward was smirking, though all you could see was his back.

"Last one home is a snail with broken legs!" he chided, only trying to motivate you to run faster. You rolled your eyes.

"Edward, snails don't have legs!" you reminded him, causing the tips of his ears to turn red. A satisfied smirk planted itself on your lips at his embarrassment, and Alphonse laughed at him from behind you.

The three of you finally neared the Elric Estate, and Alphonse threw the door open eagerly. Out of all of you, he was always the most excited to see his mother. But, he stopped short and stared at the ground, fear in his wide brown eyes.

"M-mom...?"

Edward rushed in quickly, you at his heels, and you gasped. Trisha was sprawled on the ground, hair fanned out and eyes closed. Sweat clung to her brown strands, and Alphonse dropped his basket. A single apple rolled over to her limp hand.

"She's losing color!" you yelped, fear launching itself up into your throat. Alphonse whimpered, and shook her apron weakly.

"M-mommy..." he whispered, scared. You were planted in place, unsure of what to do. Help. You needed to help, but you weren't sure how.

"Al!" Edward's voice soon took over, grabbing his brother's full attention. "Go to Winry's house, get Granny! She'll know what to do!"

You shivered as you thought of Winry coming over. You've tried countless times to befriend her, but that always resulted in you saying hello to her wrench. Edward always took the hit, of course, but still...

No! Now wasn't a time to be afraid of Winry. Now was the time to help Edward get his mother off the floor.

As Alphonse ran over to Winry's, you and Edward got Trisha to lay down. With stumbling feet, you got a warm washcloth and set it on her head.

"I'm scared..." Edward whispered quietly, fear in his bright gold eyes. This was the first time he'd ever admit to such a thing, and it scared you even more.

"I-it's okay!" you tried to convince yourself. Edward nervously took your hand, his sweaty and shaking in yours. In normal circumstances, when someone wasn't in serious danger of dying, you'd be blushing. But now wasn't the time.

Alphonse came back with Pinako, Winry, and a doctor. The wind has begun to blow outside, leaves hitting the window and adding onto the grim effect. All the bright sunshine was gone.

Edward's face was ashen white, as you still clutched onto his hand. Winry narrowed her eyes at that, but said nothing. Alphonse sat in the corner, terrified, and Pinako was with the doctor.

When the door finally opened, everyone's face shone with the tiniest shred of hope. But the doctor's face told us otherwise.

"Go on," he said grimly. "You can go say your goodbyes now, she doesn't have much longer."

Alphonse cried out pitifully, and Winry's eyes welled with tears, as did yours. Edward bit his lip, but he didn't seem to let go of the smallest of hopes that it wasn't true.

You all went inside of Trisha's room, joining Pinako. Trisha looked so weak... that image of her would never leave your mind. Laying in bed. Barely able to move. Her eyes, that normally shone with sparkles, were dulled and lifeless.

It was so obvious. This would be your last moments with her.

"My sweet boys..." she breathes, her sons clutching onto her cool hand. "I saved up some money... use it. Take care of...each...other."

"We'll use it with you!" Edward insists, trying to convince himself that he'd be able to. Trisha smiles a small, sad smile. She knew that would never come to be. And you did, too.

A small stray tear rolled down your cheeks as you heard her last request.

"Edward..." she says quietly, voice growing smaller by the second. "Would you be a dear, and transmute a wreath of flowers for me...? You see, your father....used to always...make them...for....me..."

Her hand went slack in theirs. Edward's eyes widen, Alphonse's brimming with tears. You couldn't help but cry silently as well. So much pain...

So much.

The doctor sadly pulled the covers over the dead body. Of what used to be beloved Trisha Elric.

~*~

"Brother..." Alphonse whimpers, knees pulled to his chest as he sat on the ground. His face was filled with sadness, and it made your heart ache even worse when you saw Edward's pain. "I'm cold...and I'm hungry...! How're we gonna live without her!?"

Edward glances at the wreath of white flowers he's made for her, which sat upon her silent resting point. You tried to stop the tears from coming, but it was no use.

"We're not, Al," he says firmly. "We can't. We're going to bring her back."

Alphonse looks up at his big brother, and you couldn't stop a single cry of protest to escape your throat. Both whip around in surprise, and you rush up to the two of them.

"You can't!" you beg. "You can't do it, please don't do it!"

"You can't stop us!" Edward says roughly. You felt more tears go down your face. Human Transmutation; alchemy that allows the performer to bring someone back to life. 

Also known as alchemy's greatest taboo.

"B-but Edward!" you cry, more tears obliterating your effort to wipe them away. "You can't...you that..."

"Blah blah!" Edward interrupts. "Alchemy's greatest taboo, any alchemist who does it dies, that sort of bullcrap! I don't care! I want my mom!"