"Now, then," Dante purred. "What should I do first, hmm?"

Something in me shouted to put up a fight, but what could I do? I struggled against my invisible bonds, aiming to get at Dante, but she had a Philosopher's Stone now—I couldn't break through.

"I think," she continued, "I will take care of you all."

Placing her hands on the Stone, Dante froze a portion of the water into a spear, throwing it at Alphonse.

"No!" I cried, relief flooding through me as he dove under the surface, avoiding the icy missile. But then Dante started boiling the water, a circle around her and I untouched but everywhere else bubbling with heat.

Al screamed, swimming as fast as possible toward the beach. Upon reaching it, he flopped down, gasping in pain; his tail was peeling and his skin pink. I watched the scene helplessly, doing a double take when I realized Roy was nowhere to be seen.

No, no, no. Where was he? Not in the water, he couldn't be.

I fought against the panic rising in me as Hohenheim dragged himself weakly out of the water, in worse shape than Al. Nearby, Wrath watched with disturbing happiness, and managed to rid himself of the gag.

He called out to Dante. "Let me out!"

She cackled, the sound causing a chill to run down my back. "You? You're missing limbs now, Wrath. You are of no use to me."

The homunculus continued to wail, begging as Dante froze more of the sea, taking her pick of the now-still, deathly sharp waves. Apparently finding one she liked, she picked the ice up, taking aim at Hohenheim and Alphonse.

I raised my arms, unable to reach her but desperate to help. "You can't!"

"I can!" she answered, eyes alight with malicious joy. Dante pulled her arm back, ready to strike—

And her head burst into flame.

The Sea Witch's terrible scream filled the air as she allowed herself to go under, effectively extinguishing the fire. When she rose up again, her face was badly burnt, though she fixed this quickly with the Stone. Dante's eyes shone with refreshed anger as she turned to face a new target, some way down the beach.

Roy.

Meeting her gaze evenly, he flicked the lighter I had given him, thumb brushing against the transmutation circle on the side.

Another shot of flame rocketed at Dante, this time igniting her arm. Again, she used water and the Philosopher's Stone to right herself, before speeding off in Roy's direction.

"Roy!" I shouted, terrified but unable to squash the pride that rose up in me; it was amazing that he had this much control over fire already. He did not answer me, running along the shore and ducking behind a cluster of rocks to avoid an icy shard. Again he clicked his lighter, and again Dante was alight for mere moments.

"Two can play at that game, human!" she snarled. She pushed herself out of the water, grasping the Stone and causing a small explosion in the air by Roy's head. I cried out once more, and she turned to me.

"Shut up." My screams ended with a gurgle as she blocked my mouth with water.

While Dante was distracted, Roy (having thankfully avoided the blast), again directed the fire towards her head.

Dante was slower, this time, launching off another explosion before bothering to help herself. Roy shouted, agony lacing his voice, and I saw the smoking hole in the side of his shirt, the red and angry flesh…

Tears began to stream down my face. Alphonse was crawling down the beach, his burnt tail clearly giving him hell, trying to do I don't know what.

But Roy wasn't finished. Gritting his teeth, he came after Dante again and again, firing off bouts of flame too fast for her to put them out from his position kneeling on the ground. All she could do now was use the Stone's power, healing herself even as she was burnt.

Suddenly I felt the hold on me lessen, the water blocking my mouth falling away as Dante focused her energies. Instantly, I leaped up, grabbing the Philosopher's Stone from her hand, throwing it with all my might towards Hohenheim.

She shrieked, then coughed, a horrible, ripping noise as the fire Roy refused to slow went down her throat. Hohenheim, looking immediately better with the Stone back in his possession, stood back and watched passively as Dante burnt, screaming until she could no longer make sound, and then was no more.

Roy fell back onto the sand, exhausted and pained. I swam forward, my tail pumping hard to get to him. At the last minute, I launched myself out of the ocean, landing next to Roy.

"Roy!"

"I'm—I'm okay, Ed." This said even as he grimaced, eyes shut tight against the pain.

"No, no," I half-sobbed, inspecting his wound. "Hohenheim!" I yelled. "Please!"

The Philosopher's Stone was the only thing that could heal this wound; all I could do was hope that Hohenheim would use it on a human.

Thankfully, he did have some sense of honor. After finishing up with Alphonse, he made his way over to Roy, placing the Stone at his side.

Roy gasped, eyes opening wide at the sensation. When the red light faded, his side was healed, just a scar remaining.

Unable to restrain myself, I bent down and hugged him tight. He laughed, holding me against him. Alphonse let out a little cough, but I ignore him; I was so happy I could barely breathe.

"Edward."

I released Roy slowly, smiling as he sat up. I turned to Hohenheim, suddenly nervous. What would he do to me now that the danger was past?

"I was wrong, Edward. Clearly, not all humans are dangerous." He turned to Roy. "I am indebted to you for stopping her, and for keeping my son safe these past few days."

Roy simply grinned, pulling me to his side. "Don't mention it."

Back to me. "Edward, I have a question for you." I nodded, encouraging him to continue. "Do you love this man?"

I ducked my head, face reddening. I could feel Roy's gaze on the top of my head, but could not bring myself to meet it, not until he whispered gently, "Ed?"

I looked Roy in the eye as I answered Hohenheim. "Yeah," I whispered. "I do love him."

Roy's responding grin contrasted oddly with Hohenheim's loud sigh. I turned to glare at him, and he held his hands up. Al giggled.

"And, Roy," he said next. "Do you love Edward?"

My head whipped around to look once more at Roy, curious and, of course, nervous to hear his response. My eyes widened as he kissed my forehead before answering, "Of course I do."

A fierce glee rushed through me, and I threw my arms around Roy's neck, unable to contain myself. He laughed, eyes shining.

"Well, then," Hohenheim murmured, "I suppose I should grant your wish."

As I turned to see what he meant, he placed his hands on the Stone once more, and I felt a tingle in my tail—no, my legs!

I was a human again.

I stood, noticing that I had been given shorts this time. Roy pulled himself up as well, chuckling. I squeaked, feeling a hand on my backside.

"Much better than the tail," Roy whispered in my ear, causing me to blush violently.

"You have to let me visit, Brother!" Al insisted, saving me from having to respond.

I smiled at him. "Of course I will, Alphonse."

Both Hohenheim and Al beamed at me, beginning to descend into the water.

I said one last thing, just before they disappeared. "Thank you…Dad."

Roy pulled me close, tilting my head up and kissing me. I couldn't hide my elation—after three days of trying for it, I finally got my kiss.

And beyond that, I finally got the life I'd always wanted.