I'm Joyce and as an experienced reader and experimental writer, I promise to review all your stories.

You know, this story came out just as I had begun reading fics. (I miss those days, man.) I think I hadn't read it back then just because I was intimidated by the word-count. Now, I've finally read it, and I enjoyed it! I'm really quite impressed with the plot and writing (and research!) that went into this fic that's unlike any I've read before- and I've read a whole lot by this point. I'm glad I finally gave it a shot.

I’m enjoying this read a lot so far. Wondering if we will get to see from Alphonse’s point of view soon, and how he’s been managing the new body.
Also there are quite a few times that Winry is spelled as Windy, just thought you’d like to know so it can be corrected. ;)
Thanks again for taking the time to write this and share, it’s really good!

I loved this, it captured that feeling when I first read the manga and felt the horror and pain for the Elric brothers. I also really loved that you took the time to develop Pinako’s character-she’s a huge character in understanding who the Elric boys are and I think you captured their relationship well.
Definitely couldn’t put it down, you’re writing is atmospheric and thoughtful of catching the details. Keep it up!

I’ve returned to read again. Haha.

I loved it. Thanks.
There may be a few differences with the original time line, but it was a marvelous story anyway. Thanks for writing it
Salutations
Andri Lu

I know I'm five years late to the party but I HAVE to review this chapter.
Sincerely, brickingham's "method" got me cursing at him the entire chapter. As far as I'm concerned, here in Argentina was born the concept of the taser, it was used by the military during the last military dictatorship fourty years ago for to torture the captives, alongside with muscle relaxers. This caused the sistems to fail and produced heart attacks. To think that someone will so eagerly use this method to try to HEAL someone, especially a child, and stay oblivious to the obvious (even been this fiction) made me kinda nauseous. You can be proud, the does not happen frequently.
So far I've been loving your fic, I kinda feel Pinako deserves more credit than the fandom gives her (constantly simply Killin her or letting her aside just for the humor) so to find a story with her POV so brilliantly In Character is really pleasant. Also, the descriptions of the medical procedure are pretty good and realistic, something I also appreciate. I've read a lot of fic that simply ignore it or give a movie like,naive exaggerated view of any procedure.
I'm happy to have found such a brilliantly made story like yours, and I have great expectations on what comes next. I've never been one of reviewing much, but I'll try and give another reviwe when I'm done.
Who knows, maybe I end up also reviewing on another chapter, that's how good I consider your story to be xD
Salutations
Andri Lu

Might be the best I've ever read

This story filled the obvious and long gap in his healing. I haven't really thought about it whilst watching the anime. Now I can fill the gaps on those moment while rewatching. You have really gone over those moments very well. GOD I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T PUT IT IN WORDS! I FEEL LIKE I AM MESSING THIS REVIEW. I hope everybody will start to complete their stories before they release them. I am so so so so so happy that I saw this story!

Mirage,

clearly you have studied, or know from professional experience, the psychosomal implications of meds and significant physical rehabilitation on a severely traumatized patient. You have no idea how rich and convincing your writing is in describing what would very likely have occurred for Ed leading up to Mustang discovering him in the wheelchair when he came to investigate. Wow!

I adored the scene where Ed and Alphonse team up to play tag with Winery as Ed is inside of Al's armor. What a fantastically child-like solution. So fantastically accurate and adorably played out. I still love to watch children solve problems in such oblique ways most adult minds fail to consider at all. Being an adult, I include myself in this...which is why I'm so aware and in awe when I see this sort of problem solving. I'm so loving your writing.

The scene where Winry is alone when Ed has an allergic reaction to his new meds is perfect. Her calculation and evaluation of is methodical, resourceful, and genius. At 11 years of age, she's perfecting her craft. Wow...I'm being redundant here, but wow about sums this up.

You've had me in tears several times in the last few chapters. You writing is deeply moving. Geez...I really wish we could chat. You're clearly a very complex and interesting person with a rich internal world. You're also an adult of stature and responsibility in your real world...who's deeply taken by FMA. I'm also an adult, with responsibility in my real world life, who's also deeply taken with FMA.

Your writing makes me so happy.

~LW

Ha.

Loved this bath scene. Alphonse giving Ed a bath and alternating between being tangled in Ed's hair and nearly drowning him, hysterical! Being so shy around Winry, who he'd only recently written a love letter to, was so true-to-form for a pre-teen. Heck, anyone under the age of 15. Lol.

Mirage, again, I'm so charmed by your writing.

~LW

Mirage, I had a nightmare from part of this chapter. Steven King has nothing on you. Man, that was grotesquely terrifying. And Pinako’s strength is...enormous! This word seems inadequate to her strength and bravery. What a woman!

The tender strength you’ve woven into Pinako, Winery, Ed and Al feels right. Thank you for fleshing out the very human responses to such a freakish ordeal that neither the manga or anime was able to include.

You’re rapidly becoming my favorite FMA author.

“Here Dead We Lie”, an FMA fanfic on this site, while a very different style focus from your own storytelling, is one of the very few that I can see on par with your craft, and professional skill.

Wow... you blow me away.

~LW

Mirage,
your writing is visceral and with a pulse. This is the most graphic and flow-of-consciousness writing I have encountered outside of novels, medical journals, or first-person war stories. I'm blown away by your writing. I want to have coffee with you and talk.

I'm still so stunned, by your story and your understanding of the emotional world we move through; the inner world of these characters you show to us.

I'm not you, so I won't be able to adequately convey what I'm feeling from your amazing work, but I'm deeply moved and profoundly opened up.

Thank you for this...all of these.

~LW

This fanfiction is so great. I really love the attention you've paid to Pinako and your characterization of her, I often feel other fanfic writers forget about her so I'm glad to see a fic where she is a central focus. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and share this chapter! I'm really enjoying this story so far!

I do not have a account so it feels strange posting as a guest, however it has always been my personal mission to leave a comment although I almost always read on ao3. Anyways I really enjoyed reading this chapter. Your writing is really good and it was extremely painful to read of the trauma and pain they must have all felt during the process of helping Ed post transmutation. I can't wait to see where you take this story. Your wiring was capable of inspiring so many strong emotions within me and that's super cool that you can do that, your super skilled at writing! Thank you so much for taking the time to write and share this piece, I'm really enjoying it so far and I can't wait to continue reading!