Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals by Hiromu Arakawa Makoto Inoue

Author:Hiromu Arakawa, Makoto Inoue [Hiromu Arakawa, Makoto Inoue]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: VIZ Media
Published: 2022-04-15T05:00:00+00:00

“That’s not why you didn’t tell me,” Alphonse cut him off. “You didn’t tell me ’cause you didn’t want to hurt my feelings.” Alphonse pointed at his own chest. “I don’t get hungry. My feet don’t get blisters … and I’m strong as an ox. Ed, if you’d just told me your foot was hurting, I could have given you a piggyback ride the whole way here. But you didn’t say anything …”

Edward sat silently.

“… because this isn’t my real body, and you didn’t want to remind me. If I had my real body, I wouldn’t be able to carry you. In my real body, I’m just a kid. That’s why you never complained.”

Edward was the one who had affixed his brother’s soul to the walking suit of armor. He knew better than anyone else that Alphonse didn’t get tired, didn’t feel pain, and never slept. And more than anyone else, Edward believed it was his fault.

Alphonse shook his head. “I want to get back my original body, sure I do, but why shouldn’t I use this body in the meantime? When I see you holding back like that … it hurts.” His voice held not a trace of accusation or sadness, but Edward could guess at his thoughts. He knew how tough their long search was on both of them, and Alphonse wanted to do everything he could to lessen his brother’s burden. He didn’t want Edward to hold back on account of his feelings—not just this time, but all the times before too.

At the same time, Alphonse had trouble offering help with his armored body, knowing how dedicated Edward was—how dedicated they both were—to getting their original bodies back. Sometimes, Alphonse even worried that, if he started relying on this new body too much, he might forget what his old self was like. That’s why the townsfolk of Wisteria had impacted him so much. These people had lost limbs, family, lives, and yet they pressed on with whatever strength they still had. They kept their eyes forward, filled with pride. It made Alphonse realize how fixed he and his brother were on the past.

“I thought Mr. Raygen might understand what I’m going through. Maybe he would have good advice for me,” Alphonse said after a long silence.

“I see now,” Edward said, nodding. His brother wasn’t blaming him, but he realized now the grief his words and actions had caused.

Another long silence followed. The sound of the water rushing through the waterway nearby seemed unusually loud.

“Al,” Edward began hesitantly, “do you … do you want to stay in Wisteria?”

It wasn’t an entirely unreasonable question. Alphonse had seen the bad that came from Raygen’s equivalent exchange, but he had also seen the good. If he stayed here, he would be freed from the specter of his original body, free to start over with what he had now—and Edward wouldn’t stop him.

He clutched his hands together, waiting for an answer.

Alphonse stood. “Ed, do you like who you are now?” He sat on the stairs next to the door, looking out at the water rushing by.

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