Chapter Text
“Tell her ‘thanks, she always made the best’.”
That was the last thing that he ever said to his brother, stepping into the aircraft even while his brother screamed and begged for him to not go. Wanting him to stay now that he had finally gotten him back after those long few years that he spent.
All those years looking for Edward and he had turned his back to go back to Munich, to take everything back there to prevent further bloodshed and loss of his home.
His home that he'd never see again.
The sound of his brother's yelling and calls grew quiet as he reached the main console of the craft, blasting the engines and tilting the plane down- sending it back to the underground city. Most of that underground city had been reduced to rubble from the invasion, from the pure energy of the portal that held itself open all this time.
Edward spent no time getting himself locked into the vacant chair of the aircraft, the ride back was going to be horribly rough and he knew that for sure from passing through it before..
Before.. when he was sent up by Alfons, the counterpart of his brother who risked his life to send him home.
Even if he was going back to Munich, Edward would never forget what he tried to do for him.
The moment the plane had reentered the portal, the structure creaked and groaned from the pressure with turbulence as pure energy of the portal passed over it and even took pieces of the plane. There was more than enough to make it back but the gunk that had latched itself on the plane had completely covered the glass, rendering Edward blind to anything in front. He had no chance of landing if he could even pull it off.
“Come on.. Just a little longer!”
He had to tighten the buckle that crossed his body, keeping him safe from the inevitable crash.
The only way Edward knew that he had passed through the portal was the way that the plane suddenly rocked and gravity shifted heavily to push him back against the chair. Slightly lifting off it even with how tightly he had buckled in.
The fall was way too long from what he could recall of the Munich portal being positioned but even then, he had to get it to land so he didn't get himself killed.
He grabbed the control and pulled it up, the craft barely tilting up enough to shift the gravity of their fall.
The portal gunk was slowly dissolving, the gaps gave way to bright sunlight and the only thing his eyes caught on was bright green of a countryside before the plane ran right into it, knocking Edward forward and then back from the seatbelt that kept him firmly fixed. The back of his head connecting to the headrest rather violently in the process.
The metal whined and screeched as it rubbed together, some parts groaning harshly as the plane plowed through solid soil. It came to a slow stop, lifting from the ground and landing right back in place causing parts to finally come loose and break off from the plane.
Edward let out a small groan, a hand coming to his head from the whiplash of almost being thrown around. He unclipped the buckle of the belt as it fell away from him, moving that same hand to push himself up even with how unsteady he was.
His body leaned against the chair, taking a minute to gain his bearings, only taking a step once he was a little more confident to walk.
The swimming of his head wasn't a good sign, his vision was barely keeping itself together even as he got to the damaged door of the plane. The hole he had came in from had collapsed alongside other parts of the plane, the metal jagged out like a warning to not try and pry it open but it did leave one side of the craft intact enough.
As he inhaled a breath, he braced himself as he rammed into the steel door, causing it to come loose and fall off, taking Edward with it as he fell onto the hard metal.
Something akin to a pained noise left his mouth as he shakily pushed his body up, vision spinning along with his body feeling like it had bags of lead laying on top of it. Golden eyes caught onto green and blue with the whites of clouds catching his shattered attention.
“Wh.. B.. Bright..?”
His words came out splintered, even with the urge to pass out he got to his feet.
Swaying, Edward had maybe gotten a few steps in until the ground was close again. Only barely catching himself with his arms, hands pressed into damaged and torn soil.
There was an attempt to lift his head but it only resulted in him finally crumbling to the floor, head spinning and the want to sleep overcoming him.
It was too bright for Munich.
That's all he could think as he finally passed out.
—-
“What was that?”
Maria had seen just the concept of something opening up in the sky beyond Central’s walls, it was followed by an object having flown out smoking and was going down quickly. There was a horrible whirring that she could just about hear from where they stood on the steps of Central command.
What in Amestris was that?
“Brosh, go get Major Armstrong! I'm going to see what that was.”
Where did that opening go? It was just there a second ago.
“Wait! You're not seriously considering just checking it out yourself, are you?”
Denny had always been a bit more cautious when it came to both his and Maria’s safety, he would've been more like that with Lab five had Edward and Alphonse not snuck off there just a day or two ago.
“Of course I am! We have to make sure no one was hurt, besides it's our job to make sure it's not dangerous!”
Maria argued, already taking off down the steps of the command while Denny stumbled on what to say before a sigh left him and he ran off to go tell the Major they both worked under. She could count on Denny when it came down to it, he had yet to let her down and she knew in her gut that if it was something important, Denny could relay the message for her far quicker.
The Second Lieutenant had to be quick, in her mind there could be someone wounded who was unlucky enough to get caught up in whatever had crashed, not to mention, the Military was becoming unreliable in her mind slowly but surely. She only had a small selection that she knew she could trust.
A car was easy to acquire when she had her own waiting for her, taking no chances to delay as she sped off. Lucky that the streets weren't busy enough to hold her back for too long before she was on the outskirts of Central, quickly passing out into the open countryside surrounding the city.
The fields stretched far, cut into by a river that made its way around the edge of Central.
From there, she could see the contraption that had fallen from the sky, it was mangled and smoking still, having landed in an unoccupied area by sheer luck alone.
With a sharp turn, she steered the car out of the way of the main road, finding a patch she could park in. She didn't want to chance getting the car stuck in the field so this was the best she could work with as she killed the engine and hopped out.
A hand on her gun as she lightly jogged to the craft, carefully looking around for anyone. Be it someone who posed a threat or some unlucky soul that managed to get caught up in the wreck.
The craft itself was.. Alien to her. She hadn't seen anything like it before, it wasn't like a train or a car like she was used to. Not only that, it came from the sky.. How odd.
“What.. Is this thing?”
She muttered softly.
Maria would have investigated closer but she also knew it would be foolish to go completely by herself despite how far she had come.
Lucky for her, it wasn't long until the engine of another car came along, her gaze turning back to see it park by her own vehicle and three figures stepping out from.
One was very obvious to be Major Armstrong, his tall and imposing stature being a dead give away of his presence. The next being another obvious one that was Brosh who had taken it upon himself to quickly join her side while the third barely came to Armstrong’s shoulders, glasses resting at the bridge of his nose and had a look of interest upon seeing the crash.
Hughes had decided to join it seems.
“What is that thing?”
Came Denny’s voice as he finally caught up to her, hands on his own gun just to be safe while the two high ranking officers came along at their own pace.
“Not sure.. But I felt it wise to wait until you got here to check any further.”
Maria’s attention turned back to the crash, she could see the line of destroyed ground of where it must have initially hit and it ended where it came to rest.
“Second Lieutenant Ross! Allow me to look in further!”
Major Armstrong’s voice and tone never seemed to cease its proudness as the bulky man took charge to go ahead of Maria and Denny, while Hughes came up to their side.
“What a mess this is.. You'd think there wouldn't be any more surprises than what we have on our plate already.”
Hughes let out a sigh, this week alone had been a lot. Especially with Edward being in the hospital and the falling out and make up of the brothers. A crazy week for just a few days of chaos.
“Well, let's check it out. Ross, I think it's a good idea to check for any survivors just in case.”
“Yes sir! Come on, Brosh.”
Maria stepped forward, Denny following along as they checked over the craft, circling it for anyone while Armstrong had gone the other side to see the damages.
“This thing is wrecked.. Where did it come from?”
“I'm not sure, you saw the hole it came from too though, right?”
“Yeah.. That was super weird.”
Before Maria could say much more, the sound of a pain and quiet groan caught her ears, her head snapping to it.
A person!
Someone that actually was in the wreck!
“We have a survivor!”
Maria called out quickly before her legs had gotten her moving to the lone survivor. She kneeled down to their side, carefully but hastily pulling them onto their side as she reached down to check the pulse of their survivor.
“Got a pulse, he's alive!”
Denny carefully walked around them and to the open doorway, peering in to ensure there was no hidden threat or possibly another survivor who might be trapped inside.
“I can't see anyone else in this thing.. It looks like.. Maybe some sort of transport?”
It was only a guess on his end but with the way he could see controls and a chair just at them gave him the impression of it.
“Don't go in, Brosh, we don't know if it's even stable, this civilian is our priority right now.”
“Got it, how are they looking?”
“Alive but I'm not sure if they're even conscious.”
Just at the mere mention, their mystery survivor seemed to stir. Another groan left him before he had pushed himself onto his back, looking up at the sky and golden eyes had caught onto Maria’s face at his side.
Tired confusion seeped onto his face even as his body threatened to knock back out again.
“Second Li.. Lieutenant.. Ross..?”
Maria could only freeze and think, he was so recognizable and he recognised her just from the way he looked at her.
Then something clicked.
The golden hair and eyes, the dark skin and automail right arm. Even if he seemed much bigger..
“Edward..?”
Her voice was almost a befuddled whisper that even had Denny looking over in utter disbelief.
Though, before either of them had gotten much else, those eyes had shut once more and his head tilted to one side.
He passed out.
“Damn..! Brosh! Get Major Armstrong!”
“On it!”
Denny was quick yet mindful as he passed the two, quickly informing Hughes and then moving on to get Armstrong. Hughes was quick to come to Maria’s side.
“Brosh just said you found Edward, that shouldn't be possible.”
“It shouldn't.. And yet..”
Maria looked up to Hughes, seeing confusion on his face. Studying the young man in Maria’s arms and finding it hard to believe that it was the kid he had known since he was twelve. But.. He couldn't see any reason that it wasn't either.
Did he always have freckles though?
“I think he might be seriously hurt, we should take him to the hospital.”
“I agree, do not mention any of this to Ed until we figure out what's going on!”
“Yes sir.”
Hughes nodded to the acknowledgement of his orders. It couldn't get crazier than this, could it?
Armstrong came with Denny and one look at their Doppelganger came with immediate recognition.
“Edward Elric? What is he doing here? Wasn't he at the hospital?”
“Yeah, still is.. Either way, we need him taken to the hospital, Major.. Think you can do that?”
“Of course, Lieutenant Colonel! I will ensure there are no delays!”
Armstrong came to the other side of Edward from Maria, scooping up the young man into his arms before he walked on to take him back to one of the cars.
“Ross, you go with him, Brosh here can help me look further into this thing before other squads get their mitts into this too.”
Maria nodded, standing up to salute and off she went to catch up to Armstrong, the burly man carefully placing the double of Edward into the back of the car while Maria came to the driver's seat.
“Should I take him to the same hospital, sir?”
She questioned, head turned to the Major as he had taken the passenger seat.
“There should be one closer along, we shall take him there to be treated.”
“Yes sir.”
The turn of a key and the engine came back to life, leaving the scene of the crash to drive back into Central. Carefully navigating along, taking directions from Armstrong when needed.
—
A soft groan came from Edward. Eyes slowly opening with a slowness of someone that really didn't want to be awake and yet, he had opened his eyes for the first time in..
In..
He wasn't even sure how long he had been out.
All the young man did know was that where he was lying was.. Soft. Softer than metal and soil anyway.
Another thing he knew, had to be the aching pain that was all over his body. His head throbbed with a terrible migraine and bright light was not helping his case, he lifted an arm and laid it over his eyes, inhaling a deep breath that sent electricity of aching through his chest.
A pained noise left him.
“Oh! Major, he's awake!”
The voice seemed to startle Edward as he quickly moved his arm back to his side, sitting up a little too quickly causing a ripple of pain to wash over him. A hand holding itself over his chest as he bent forward somewhat from the pain.
“Agk! That didn't feel good..”
“You need to be careful.. You were knocked up pretty bad, they said you may have a concussion too.”
That voice!
Lifting his head, his sights landed onto a woman beside his bed. A look of worry on her face and adorning that blue Amestrian military uniform.
“Maria.. Ross?”
Maria gave a faint smile to Edward with a nod.
“Yeah, that's me..”
Just as quickly as Edward had recognised her, an expression of terror and worry had replaced that recognition and suddenly he was moving to get out of bed.
“The portal! The portal isn't closed!”
With the pace he was moving, Edward almost had gotten himself completely off the bed had a hand not shoved him back down against it.
“Major! Careful!”
Maria had gotten to her feet, concerned for Edward’s injuries and Armstrong potentially making them worse by pushing him back against the bed, even as Edward seemed to fight against it. Struggling to remove Armstrong’s hand from or be able to escape it
“No! No! I need to close the portal! If I don't we're in trouble! They'll send more soldiers! And-! And-!”
Through his rambles, that look of terror didn't leave Edward’s expression, breathing having gotten almost hysterical but still fighting tooth and nail to get out.
“Edward Elric! If that is truly you, I must ask you to calm down!”
So much for calming presence, for a man that cared a lot, he had a hard time properly calming someone down..
“No! I can't! Amestris is in danger! I have.. I have to close it! The p.. Portal! To stop more soldiers a-and planes coming!”
“You must rest, as for this portal you speak of, there is nothing of the sort when we found you..”
That seemed to knock a bit of sense into Edward as he stopped struggling, breathing still rapid, eyes locking onto Armstrong with wild panic still held in them.
“And these soldiers you spoke of.. No one but you were there.. Not of these contraptions you have called ‘planes’.”
Armstrong's voice seemed to be getting to the young man, he had stopped struggling all together, even with his state, he had somewhat calmed down enough to think on what to say and ask.
“There.. There isn't..?”
The question came out choked. Voice beginning to fail him as hands grasped onto the hospital bed sheets.
There were no soldiers? No more planes? Not even the portal stayed open? It closed by itself? Did passing through it again somehow cause it to close? Or did closing one side make it disappear all together? What caused it to close? Could he have stayed home after all?
There were too many questions cropping up that made his head throb even more than before.
“No, there was nothing else nor anyone else at the crash.. You were the only one we found.”
Maria had finally spoken again, Edward’s attention having turned to her, his breathing had slowly settled into a decent pace and he didn't look as scared out of his mind as he did before. It was like he was processing everything, even through the pain. It was enough to get Armstrong to back off at the very least, finally giving him space.
“We're not sure what you were found by.. but it seemed like it was nearly crushed from the impact it made..”
“I.. Its em.. a plane.. An aircraft that.. That.. carries people places.. Th.. Through the air..”
The way Edward choked and stumbled on his words made Maria’s heart ache, the way he had been so scared and his injuries..
“So that's a plane? An interesting concept.. Travelling by air.”
Armstrong hummed curiously. To think there were vehicles that could carry people in the air to different destinations, perhaps an idea that would prove useful for them. It would certainly make travelling to different countries easier.
Places like Xing where the desert was the only way to cross if the long route wasn't an option for whatever reason.
That thought was cut as the quiet sobs of Edward reached his ears, the young man had balled himself up. Using the sheets to try and hide himself and his face, he was clearly exhausted enough to be breaking down like this, especially with the hell he must have been through.
“Edward.. It's alright, you're safe now..”
It was almost surreal to see this counterpart to the Edward that she knew break down like this, she hadn't witnessed it herself by any means. The one she was used to would do anything to keep his emotions and feelings to himself, so much so that he didn't bother to tell Ross or Brosh about going to lab five by themselves. An act that could've gotten the boy killed had she not noticed the silence of his and his brother's absence so quickly.
Though this one was openly letting everything out, though she couldn't chalk that up to being a willing choice.
She went to reach for Edward’s shoulder to try and comfort the young man only for it to be slapped away by him and followed by a:
“N-no! Do.. Don't tou.. Touch me!”
His voice cracked and gasped as he tried to speak, his breakdown making it hard to breathe and think. Mind slowly going to a fuzzy static, tears streamed down his face and onto the sheets that he grasped so tightly.
Almost like a frightened child.
And Armstrong had noticed the resemblance quickly, an idea formed and so.. He carefully lowered himself, bringing a chair over to the end of Edward's hospital bed and seating himself onto it.
“Listen, Edward Elric, I must ask.. Do you wish to be left alone? Just simply nod or shake your head.”
Through a hiccup of breath, Edward shook his head fiercely. The idea of being alone truly felt terrifying even for him, he couldn't do that. Not right now.
“Very good Edward, do you wish for only one of us to stay here? If you do, just point to who you wish to stay.”
A shaky breath was made by Edward, he seemed to slightly lift his head enough to poke an eye from beyond the sheets and see Armstrong through teary eyes that blurred his vision. Who did he want to stay?
To his memory, Maria had always been kind to him and set him straight when he was being reckless at one point, he vaguely remembered the one he knew having gotten him when the incomplete stones had overcharged his alchemy just from touching it. Armstrong on the other hand, while he was fierce in battle and proud, he was also kind to him.. He remembered Armstrong looking out for him on multiple occasions, especially when he got his arm destroyed by Scar.
Raising his arm, Edward pointed toward Armstrong as he sniffled and took a shaky breath again. Tears still fell consistently and he still wanted to sob his heart out, yet he found having his attention on someone was helping him be somewhat collected.
“I see, Second Lieutenant Ross, would you please stand guard at the door.”
Maria nodded, saluting the Major, taking her leave right after. She was sure Edward had his reasons for it, she was just concerned. Concerned for all the questions that kept coming up in her head, concerned for his well being..
What happened to this Edward Elric?