Lesson no. 1
Edward Elric sneezed.
Around him, he could see dust particles wafting through the stale air, becoming visible only when the ray of light from the window would hit them.
He slowly hefted himself up into his elbows, taking in his situation. He was laying on a bed. Which was covered in dust. The fuck.
Then it all came flooding back. The letters. The Truth. His gate.
Ed was sitting at his desk in his black tank and leather pants. He had been renting out a local peasant’s study during his stay in a foreign country. Piles of books sat precariously on the edge of the surface, paper after paper strewn across the wood. His ivory sword was slung across the back of his chair. He had taken to fighting with it since the promised day, seeing as he couldn’t access his alchemy anymore. These items were all pushed carelessly aside when three letters had been delivered to his door. Ed eagerly ripped open the first one-a letter from Alphonse. He wrote to Ed all about his life in Xing; finding cures for incurable diseases through alkehistory, Ling finally becoming emperor, and the most delightfully shocking news- him and Mei were expecting their first child. Ed sat back in his chair, unable to stop a grin from growing on his face. His heart swelled with happiness for the both of them. After the events of the last few years, and in Al’s case, his whole life, they both deserved a little happiness once in a while.
The second letter was from Roy, who was no longer a Colonel but Ed would rather stab himself before giving Mustang the satisfaction of hearing Ed call him Fuery (even if it was only in his mind). Roy wrote of the usual. Work, blah, Ed’s overdue report, blah blah, Ed’s other even more overdue report, blah blah blah. Mustang knew Ed couldn’t give two fucks about those reports, only nagging him to annoy him. It was that bastard's sneaky way of showing that he cared.
Ed could barely contain his excitement as he tore the last letter open. Immediately Ed caught a whiff of Winry’s perfume, and all his senses went into overdrive. God, he missed her. Her letter read,
‘Dear Edward,
Granny and I miss you. When are you coming home? I’m in Resembool until the end of the summer and will be returning to Rush Valley at the start of fall. If your leg hurts, I swear Edward you better be on a train home right now. I don’t want my precious automail getting demolished because of some stupid street fight or another run in with a chimera.
Call before you come home, you idiot. I’ll be waiting.
Lots of love,
Winry’
Ed reread the letter again. And then again. And then once more. He could practically hear her beautiful, nagging voice reminding him to oil his leg port. As he carefully folded the letter back into its envelope, two small objects fell out of the parchment. Earrings. They were silver snake pendants- the symbol for alchemy. The gift wasn’t unusual. Winry had been sending him earring after earring over the course of the year. Each new pair he had gotten, he made new holes for. At this point, he barely had any space left for new ones. The first pair he received were silver cuffs for his cartilage, the same ones Ed and Al bought Winry all those years ago. Winry told him it was so they could be matching. Ed had almost cried. After piercing his ears with a needle and putting in his new pair, Ed stepped back to admire them in the mirror–and froze when he abruptly noticed a familiar Cheshire grin and white face standing next to him in the mirror.
Ed spun around, fist already in full swing. The Truth only laughed when his fist passed right through it.
‘Mr. Not-an-Alchemist-Anymore, is that really the way you greet old friends?‘ The Truth jabbed, dodging another swipe from Ed. Ed stopped his barrage of attacks, anger fading slightly, when he realized that they were doing no damage.
‘I don’t know if I’d go as far to call what we have a friendship.’ Ed said. Truth smirked and crossed its arms and legs, leaving it’s body hovering over top of the sink.
‘Fair enough.’ He said. ‘I’ll cut to the chase, Mr. Could-be-an-Alchemist-Again.’
Ed didn’t say anything.
‘I’m here to offer you a deal. You see, I not only oversee Amestris and its surrounding countries, but also the whole world. Now, another country has been giving me some….nuisances as of late, and as you know, I do like to make sure things are in order.’
‘More or less.’ Ed said slowly, and then more abruptly, “Cut to it already, Truth.’
Truth swung its legs through the air, like a child on a swing. ‘Patience! Anyways, nothing too urgent, there is simply a war happening in this other country and I need you to hurry it up and defeat the threat.’
‘Damnit.’ Ed whispered, eyes glued to his gate. And then images of Winry, Al, Mustang, Riza, Mei, Ling, and Granny flashed through his mind. He already had everything he wanted. He gave alchemy up willingly. Slowly, he brought his eyes up to Truth’s face. ‘Truth, when I gave up my alchemy all those years ago, I did it knowing that the thing I was exchanging it for would always be a hundred times more important. So, no hard feelings, but I think I’m gonna have to pass.’ Truth cocked his head to one side.
‘Well then in that case it would be a shame if anything happened to your brother and those friends of yours.’ Truth said nonchalantly. Ed’s blood turned icy.
‘You wouldn’t.’ Ed snarled. Truth’s creepy smile only stretched wider.
‘And maybe even pretty little Miss Rockbell, hmmm?’
‘No!’ Ed could’ve sworn his throat had dropped down to his stomach. ‘I’ll do it, just leave them alone’.
Truth uncrossed its arms. ‘Excellent. And in return for your services, you will be able to keep your alchemy after the mission. You will be acting as a foreign aide from a very far away, unheard of country, which shouldn’t prove to be very challenging. On the contrary, alchemy isn’t common there. They have….alternatives. And one more thing; the place I’m dropping you off in…they’re your allies. When you get there, just tell them Dumbledore sent you. Understand? Dumbledore is trustworthy.’
Truth's voice was tinny and small. Ed felt numb. He was getting dropped off in some random place. That random place had people named after doors. They’re probably all crystal meth addicts. He won’t be going home. He won’t be seeing Winry for an unidentifiable amount of time. Won’t get to swing her into his arms, kiss to her soft lips-
‘Time to go.’ Truth extended its hand. Ed slowly reached out to grab it, but hesitated mere inches away.
‘And when I defeat this “threat”, you’ll bring me home?’ Ed asked, staring Truth down.
Truth laughed. ‘When have I ever led you astray?’
As their hands connected, Ed ‘s consciousness must have slipped. He wasn’t in the bathroom anymore, but falling, down, down. It was like seeing the Truth for the first time all over again.
And then a boy was there, walking towards Ed. How was he doing that? He looked to be a couple years younger than Al, with the fairest skin and hair Ed’s ever seen. He seemed to be mouthing something, but before Ed could ask–everything went white and Ed slipped once more. Into the whiteness. Into the nothingness.