IIVX. Death and Defeat

Al stood in the funeral procession, he didn't cry, because he knew his brother wouldn't want that. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the new Fuhrer, Roy Mustang, was patched up enough to walk, his take over had been abrupt and out of the ordinary, but his dream had been achieved, at a much lower price than his brother's, an eye for his greatest goal to come true. Al remembered back on the last few days of Ed's life, not happy ones at all, sitting in silence, barely able to move anymore, a stolen oxygen tube rigged to his mouth. Those eyes had been exactly as Envy had said they would be, and that frightened Al, it frightened him horribly.

"We are gathered here today-"began the minister, and Al thought how ironic it was, his brother had spent the greater part of his life denouncing god, and here he was receiving a catholic burial. thinking of it reminded him of Ed's last moments.

"Bro..ther."Ed had weezed out through the tube.

"You shouldn't talk Ed, you need to preserve your energy."Al said fretfully, Ed shook his head.

"Mom...said...she...wanted...is...to...pray..."Al easily understood.

"You want to say our bedtime prayers together?"he asked in surprise, Ed nodded slowly, obviously exhausted,"okay brother." he kneeled down beside his brother, griping one of the once strong hands in his own, wincing at how feeble and weak it now was.

"Pray..."Ed order.

"Now I lay me-"Al began.

"Down...to...sleep..."

"I pray the lord my soul to keep."

"God...bless..."

"Mom and dad and Granny Pinako and Winry and Roy and everyone else."

"Amen."Al looked up in shock as he saw those eyes, heard that voice.

"No brother! No, don't die!"he screamed, but it was far to late as Ed's eyelids shut slowly over his golden eyes,"Please brother! Please don't..."he sobbed, clutching at his brother.

Al sat calmly through the procession, walking calmly to the casket and leaning over to place a kiss on the forehead of his brother. He took one last long look at the far to skinny body and gaunt face, and wondered if it was really worth the trouble that they'd been through.

Winry stood beside him as he walked away, she sobbed into his shoulder, and he held her, and it rained, but not from the sky.

______________________________

Sloth could've felt worse as she watched her own son's funeral, she really could've, but she didn't, she had no soul, her emotions were remembered through her memories, her mind directing which was correct to use. But now, now everything was to numb to do anything at all. She wished to cry, but her last shoulder left to cry on was the one who lay in the casket. She watched in dumbed shock as his son, her precious Edward, was buried, and understood what a terrible mother she was. She turned then, and decided that there was nothing she could do about it, because lying was something she could do everyday.

"Lady bug, lady bug,

Fly away home..."

______________________________(Here's an added ending for all those that wanted Ed to live, for those who were cheering on his death, don't read this part)

Trisha sighed as she stood beside the alchemist, Russel Tringham, such a darling little friend for her child. Her eldest lay propped up on some pillows in the middle, her youngest watching with unsure eyes at what she was about to.

"Activate the array."she ordered, the Tringham nodded and placed his hands down, she stepped forward enjoying the brief exhilaration of power, before the gate appeared, she smiled at her eldest as she disappeared through, watching his shocked face as the blac hands embraced her.

_____________________________

Fuhrer Roy Mustang looked over the list of State Alchemists, it was a small list granted, but it was definitely a list he liked to look over often, only ten names long, and at the very bottom read the two names he liked to read the most.

Alphonse Elric, age 18

and his all time favorite,

Edward Elric, age 19

AN: I am saddened that the last chap in the shortest. Sorry fans! Now, this is obviously me being evil and nice at the same time.

Nice because I've offered you the choice of Ed's life.

Evil, because not only does it disqualify all your votes (though officially, he did die, in my books anyway), but it also makes you feel even more guiltier for ignoring the Alternative available.

Also, Ed would not be a homunculus in the alter ending, it would probally take place a week or so after last chapter, so Ed's still alive and Sloth sacrifices herself to give him back his lungs and possibly his virginty, though I'm not to sure on the last part.

Well anyway, hoped you enjoyed it! ~Ninja0Squirl out!