Same, But Different (A Fullmetal Alchemist fan-fic)

Fools

Éclair

"Stop!" Al shouted, as he came up to us, "What are you doing throwing your lives away I don't wanna lose you again!" 

In all honestly I was scared as hell, but we didn't stop. We couldn't.

It was all for Al.

Our minds were certain as they could be in our situation. Had we not been on our own for so long perhaps we'd realize we were making a dumb decision, however it was too late to change our minds.

Soon, we were both facing the truth. No, all three of us were. Our own truth. 

"You really are a fool, girl. You want to give up more to someone who had made the same mistake as you had." The truth mocked me, flexing his arm and leg at me, obviously mine. It was that damn smile he had.  

"That's not foolish. That's caring, something you don't understand because you're inhuman. It's a noble sacrifice. I came here just to help someone since I probably wasn't gonna make it." 

"And using yourselves as the ingredients that you didn't have?"

"See that's the thing, I only need my blood, I've figured something out," I smiled as my heart began to glow, "I don't know what it is yet, but if the other inhumane creatures want it, it means that it's special."

"Well if you both wish to die that much--"

I closed my eyes and shook my head before I opened them and laughed, "who said I was dying for this?"

The truth realized my intentions with my glowing heart, "Looks like all I can take from you is your blood...and only so much of it from both of you...your damn heart."

"Heh. Figured I'd like to see what you thought of it." I smirked. 

"Your filthy blood is all I get. You drive a hard bargain."

I glared at him, "You knew if I ever came back I was going to do this my way. That's just the way I do things."

The truth took my blood, alot of it. As much as he could. But he had to stop before he drained me, which surprised both him and I. He couldn't touch the rest of it, and instead my skin paled and my hair grew dark, all of its color fading to black. My heart stopped glowing and that mark--the same mark Envy had--appeared where my heart was.

"Why you!" The truth snarled at me. He took the same amount of blood from Ed, before fully restoring all of Al's body. I had officially cheated the truth. 

But Al got his body back. And that's all that mattered to a couple of dying people.

Ed and I awoke momentarily on our circle. We were helpless now. Dying. I closed my eyes, opening them again. I couldn't really move or speak. I felt as if someone else was trying to take control of my body. I was trying to fight for control.

Was this what dying felt like?

"Éclair! Edward! You--w-why did you do this?!?!" Al shouted. He took off his helmet so we could see his face. We actually did it. He was there, frail and pale just like I was, except he was crying.

I didn't have the strength to cry. I was using my strength to keep myself alive.

"I'm still...El what did you do?" Ed asked of me.

"I-I don't know myself, but I think my heart was what you were looking for all along..." I smiled to Ed, "Thank you for your help, we did it..."

"I'm glad you got your body back, Alphonse." Ed smiled as he looked up into his brother's eyes. He then passed out on the ground beside me.

"You're welcome" I whispered as I closed my eyes. The rain began to pour even more than it was before. "Tell Trevor this was the best I could do for him to show him I cleaned the slate..." I heard more sloshing footsteps, perhaps it was the rest of our friends... 

It was Vapor's voice that rang out first, "Ed! El! Al...phonse" 

Al responded, not sure how to speak words. I don't blame him. I wouldn't be able to speak at this point either if everything that just went down happened in front of me. "They..."

"Éclair!" Vapor shouted. She tried to lift me up. I moaned a bit, opening my eyes just enough to see the Noise-freak.

"We need to bring them back as soon as possible they're breathing isn't normal, they've taken just too much damage from wandering on their own for so long." Noise-freak said. I heard more people ride up. I closed my eyes. There was nothing I could do at this point. I couldn't even lift my arms or wiggle my toes.

"We came as soon as we saw the light..." It was Roy. He saw Al probably, then turned his attention to us. "Halfmetal! Fullmetal!" 

"Are they...dead....?" Riza asked before she opened my eyes. The image of her face was blurry as hell, but I was able to moan a bit. "No, she's still here, they're both still here." 

"Help me get them up, we need to get them back as quick as we can!" Roy bellowed the commands to everyone.

I then fell unconscious.

~~~

Vapor 

"Are they going to be okay?" Ayumi asked to me in a hushed whisper. She road back on my horse, holding onto me from behind. It was cold, hash, and perhaps the fastest I ever road a horse. Al's face was ghost white, and he had the look of someone who'd just been stabbed in the back so many times that he didn't know how to continue on.

It's the same face I've seen Éclair wear many times before. Same as Trevor. Such a shame all the pain they endured through the years.

The Palm-Tree kid was fine, the Palm-Tree just needed a lot of food or something. But Ed and El...no one knew if they'd make it. They felt so cold...I almost thought they were already dead.

El's hair was pitch black and her skin was almost as white as snow. She could've been a princess had her hair not been the disaster that it was...and her foul language and attitude...

"It's about five miles to Resembool!" Ayumi announces. We'd get there soon, I'd hope. Lightning flashed and the thunder roared.

Meanwhile two of us were on their death beds.

I found myself crying, something I hadn't been able to do in years. Cloud licked my face and Ayumi held onto me tighter, also in tears.

Were these two people--these two people who've committed unspeakable sins--were they getting to me? I've only been with them for not even two weeks time. Were they more than good friends? Was it the rain? 

Either way, I began to cry. I didn't hold back this time. They were the closest thing to a family I'd ever get.

And that's what meant the world to me. "Ed, El you can't die!" I screamed, "you're the only family I've got and I won't let you die on me!" I gripped the rope I had on my horse tighter and pushed to go faster. 

It was certain now. There was no way I was going to let them die on me. They were going to live. I had to make sure of it.