Haiii !

I guess this is sort of a companion fic to my long-unupdated "The Golden Winter Wind", but not really. Just popped into my head. I'm not sure where this came from..

Al is dead for some reason, just to clear that up. (Sorry, Al.)

Enjoy.

Edward Elric knew his days were numbered.

Everyone died, right? Especially greedy children who visit the Gate and return somewhat alive each time. He had to have known his time would come eventually.

But had it really come to this?

A glance at the clock proved it was time to leave and he slipped gloves over his worn, pale fingers and tied his trademark braid. He stared at the rifle in the corner for a long, long time- but decided against it.

He wouldn't need it. He wasn't going to shoot anyone, so help him Truth.

It was Roy Mustang first. He heard the man's screams across the battlefield and Hawkeye's terrified shouts for him to move out of the way, she could handle it. He pictured his favorite General sprawled in the snow, black hair mixing with crimson blood and he nearly turned back for Mustang, but he couldn't. He had to keep walking.

It was Havoc second, because he'd done the impossible- tried to save Mustang. Tears flowed down Ed's face and froze there, but he refused to stop, only counted his comrades deaths one by one- the only way he could show his respect for his fallen friends.

A few Drachmans gasped when they realized the golden boy had no weapon. No alchemy, either-they were well informed, and soldiers scattered away to refrain from shooting an unarmed person. That was the lowest thing a human could resort to, and they knew it.

Breda.

Falman.

Ross.

Denny.

He checked their names off one by one, treading onward in knee deep snow. He would not stop walking, he could not stop walking, it wouldn't be done-

Finally, the last man fell. Hawkeye.

He was the lone wolf who betrayed the pack. He knew how to operate a gun- he could've saved them- but it was futile, because who sends a small group of soldiers to fight a whole war themselves?

Finally, a Drachman eyed him warily from across the field. He pretended not to notice that a bullet was whizzing his way-

Edward Elric died in the snow along with a group of his comrades, their blood draining into the earth's core. In his final breath he reached a flesh arm up and whispered:

"Al."

The mighty Fullmetal Alchemist had fallen.