Stand Up and Walk

Failure is Not an Option

"To think you saw it, and managed to survive..." Teacher muses, staring out the open window. "I doubt you even know how impressive that is. Regardless, I can't accept the decision you made." With a glare, she turns to face you and the boys. "You're expelled," she says sharply.

"But Teacher—!"

Ed holds out his hand, halting his brother. "Al," he warns.

Izumi turns back to the window. "The trains are still running. Get on one."

Ed seems to steel himself, and then bows to the woman. "Thank you," he says stoically, "for everything."

...

"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

...

Sig waits with you and the brothers as the train pulls into the station. "Feel free to drop by if you're ever in town," he rumbles.

Your shoulders drop. "I don't really think we're welcome anymore," you sigh.

"You idiots!" the mountain of a man shouts, and the three of you flinch back, surprised. "You're so busy pouting that you can't see what your expulsion means," he explains. "You aren't her students anymore, so now you are finally free to speak to Izumi as equals!" He pauses. "...unless, of course, you are too chicken to try it," he taunts, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ah, damn!" Ed exclaims, clapping a hand to his forehead and turning to you and Al. "Guys! We haven't done what we came here to do in the first place!" He turns back to Sig. "Thank you. We're heading back there right now!" he says, before dashing off.

As you and the youngest Elric dash off after him, you here Sig's parting words: "Don't let her kill you!"

...

Ed flings open the door. "Teacher—!" He is cut off by his own scream as a knife embeds itself in the wall barely a hair over his head.

"What the hell are you doing coming back here?!" Teacher roars, the flames of hell rising behind her eyes. "And you call me 'Teacher'! I do not teach scum like you! Get out of my home!!"

You and the brothers fall to you knees before the enraged woman, groveling at her feet.

"Teacher!" you cry out, pressing your hands to your chest. "Please! We need your help! We're trying to get our bodies back, and we won't leave without your help!"

Your words do nothing to calm the infuriated woman before you. "Get out now!" she snarls viciously.

"We're staying!"