(no subject)
The worst mistake one can ever make with their life, it seems, is to take things for granted.
- You might find this hard to believe, but I met Al. My little brother.
I might be able...
To go home. -
Edward had never really thought that he had enough in his life to take for granted. He'd lost most that was important to him at the age of eleven, and he's spent the ensuing seven years in a slow downward spiral. He's fought tooth and nail to hang onto the littlest things that he's got left, and until he was sixteen, he'd managed to keep a touch-hold on them.
- Shamballa. A perfect, legendary eastern land. It's said that whoever controls it... will rule the world. -
It was only when he sacrificed himself for his brother that he lost everything he had. And it was then that he clearly lost the ability to see when he was taking things for granted, as it has now been cruelly revealed to him that he has been doing exactly that.
- You recognize this bomb. It's of your world. It's used as a promise... that the Nazi uprising will succeed.
They plan to open the gate, to bring forth more power from your world.
Let them. It doesn't concern you anymore. -
There have been two constants in his life since he passed through the gate, and not even the bar nor its occupants has made it onto that list. One is his father - though Edward spent most of his life hating the man, though Edward hasn't seen him in the flesh for a very long time, Hohenheim had not missed any opportunity to make up for lost time in the past two years. Even when his actual physical presence has not been known, he always finds some way to make sure that Edward is taken care of. It's the only way, for example, to explain off the times when the rent on the flat has suddenly moved from the red into an area of being paid up for two months. There are many similar occurrences to this, and when they happen, Edward knows who is responsible.
- You are pretending to live a dream, when you are really afraid... that reality will invade it! -
The other full constant in his life is Alfons Heiderich. He had faulted Hohenheim for seeking out Edward's own double, in the very beginning. He had accused him of being needlessly and stupidly nostalgic. But when Ed met the boy at the rocket school, he was unable to stop himself from repeating his father's 'mistake' - and he's clung to his brother's double ever since.
- Don't build that rocket. They're planning a war... using the world that I came from.
Alfons! -
If he's upset, then Alfons is there for him, waiting with comforting words. If he's inspired, then Alfons has a brain to match his, and they manage to inspire each others' ideas to new heights. And if he's feeling silly, well, then Alfons is willing to play around with him like they're five years old. And he's always, always willing to overlook it if Edward slips up and accidentally calls him 'brother'.
- This is my world. I want to leave some proof that I lived. You have no say in the matter! -
Ed has no illusions about this. He realizes that part of it is likely because he has an 'odd likeness' to Alfons' late brother as well - although Alfons never misses an opportunity to assure him of how mild mannered and logical and completely unlike Ed that boy had been.
- The gate won't open, anyway. -
It's okay. It makes Ed smile. It's just a part of what they have.
- The gate won't open. -
But Alfons has been changing lately, hasn't he? Edward's been so wrapped up in his own problems that he hasn't known what to do about it, but he's certainly been aware of it. He's been taking Alfons for granted, assuming he'll always be there, assuming he'll always be helpful, assuming he'll always be the same, nice guy that he's always been.
- What are you planning?
Go home, Edward.
Go home. -
He let Alfons down. He let him down completely, and this fact is clear to him now. Edward was so ignorant of those puzzle pieces arranging themselves around him, that now the people in Edward's life are forcing themselves to sacrifice for him, all just to see his happiness. Despite any loss of their own.
- Open the gate to Shamballa, and bring their armed forces to us. -
Edward had thought Alfons had changed. In the end, Alfons hadn't changed at all. It takes him far too long to realize this. It takes Noa's betrayl - his memories, his feelings, his thoughts, they were all his, and she stole the for herself, she took them - to make him realize this.
He can't stay away. He needs to involve himself.
- The gate won't open without you. -
Because those he cares about are in danger, on two sides of the gate.
- All I want is a world of my own, that belongs to me! One where nobody will betray me, or be afraid of me! -
He can't say that it doesn't concern him.
- His knowledge alone will not open the door? -
He can't say...
- Father? what the hell are you doing? -
...that it's not his world any longer.