9. [PM] + [Action] (forward-dated to the 24th)

[rewritethis]

[PM to everyone who so much as spoke to his AU, if he knows their name] [ooc: this can be handwaved or backtagged!]

If you remember the guy asking after me a couple of weeks back: I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

- Edward Elric

[Action]

[After those slightly cryptic PMs go out, Ed is absent from his usual hangouts for the rest of the morning. It's pretty difficult to miss him if you venture into the training centre, though - he's standing around a small clearing fairly close to the entrance, although after a little while a more accurate description would be miniature wasteland. Fallen grats lie here and there in the torn-up earth surrounding him; a couple are wounded in a way that suggests he impaled them somehow, but most just look like they've been rather viscerally beaten.

Presently, he settles down at the base of a nearby tree, on top of his untidily folded coat. He pulls at the hem so he can start polishing his right arm, but then stops and hangs his head. There's clearly something on his mind.

Not too far in the distance, a large animal roars.]

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

[Hear that sound like a jet engine? It's the only warning he's getting before a rainbow pony plows into him at top speed, like a tiger plowing into a six-year-old kid just coming home from school.]

ED!

[There's never been a hug quite like this one. Somersaulting force and joy.]

[rewritethis]

[Or possibly as painful, seeing as she just sent him ploughing straight into tha trunk of that tree.

But when he's caught his breath, he has to laugh - and as tired as he looks, there's something almost uncharacteristically honest about the sound.] Hey. Guess that means you're back to normal.

[elementofloyalty]

[Well, not perfectly normal, because she's clinging to him like he's just come back to life.]

[Which, all things considered, isn't... exactly wrong.]

I never thought I'd be so glad to see anypony in my LIFE! Are you okay!?

[rewritethis]

'Course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be okay? [And right back to his usual level of candor.

He shuffles a bit so that he's not completely sandwiched between tree and pony, and gives her a lopsided smile.] But it's good to see you too. You know if I missed anything this morning?

[elementofloyalty]

I dunno. I've been looking for you. And making sure everypony knows I'm... you know. ME.

[Now Rainbow turns a bit sheepish, disentangling herself in embarrassment.]

[rewritethis]

Did you need to make sure? Seems pretty obvious to me.

[But then his grin wavers slightly.]

So you just remembered all of that too, right? Being her? She sure was... [Nope, no charitable description is coming to mind.] something.

[elementofloyalty]

[And all subtlety is lost as Rainbow turns bright red.]

Oh my gosh. I can't believe it. What was UP with that? My entire room is covered in half-done paintings and art supplies!

action

[midgarhorizon]

[Walking through the training area, Reno noted the torn up earth and the downed monsters. There was a boy nearby.

Curious, he walked to the edge of the clearing and leaned against a tree near by.]

Something on your mind, or are ya just letting off steam tearing up my training area?

[rewritethis]

[He eyed the man for a second, trying to recall if he looked familiar at all. Nothing immediately came to mind, though.]

I'll clean up when I'm done. Don't worry about it.

[midgarhorizon]

All right, just know it's on my head if ya don't. I got to clean up after you cadets down here.

[He gave the kid an easy going smile, not too bothered by it either way, but he did know when someone wasn't doing too well.]

So you want to talk about it, or should I just shove off?

[rewritethis]

Guess you could say I just woke up from a bad dream. [He half returned the smile.] Pretty pathetic, huh? But I'll get over it. It's not like I never had worse.

[midgarhorizon]

Sure, sure. Bad dreams suck, but I don't know about pathetic. If it's got anything to do with the whole people being different thing, nah, that's not pathetic.

[rewritethis]

[He shrugged, looking back down at his own feet.] Well, it sure didn't help, I can tell you that. Hit anyone you know?

[earthlychild]

[All this strangeness. This is the second time they've been through something together, isn't it? She passes and peers out a nearby window, then returns about ten minutes later with two mugs a pot, and a small bag of cookies in tow. Bought, of course: she wouldn't subject poor Ed to her homemade food.]

I've been meaning to find you for a while now.

[She offers him a mug, holding up the teapot.]

[rewritethis]

[He looks up, surprised.] Oh, it's you... [His smile is wry, and a bit unsteady.] You sure somewhere with this many monsters is a good place for a picnic?

[Despite himself, though, he does take the proffered mug. His automail fingers clink against the handle.]

It was... [He has to rack his brain for a moment.] Aerith, right?

[earthlychild]

That's right. I'm glad you made it through.

[She pours some tea and scoffs at the notion of danger.]

I have my ways to repel monsters, don't worry. I just wanted to see you. After...you know.

[rewritethis]

[Jokingly, as he lifts the mug to his mouth:] Which time are you talking about again?

Seriously, though, I'm not that easy to get rid of. [He sips at the tea, feeling uncharacteristically self-conscious.] Whether I want this place to get rid of me or not... [With his other shoulder, he shrugs.] But it's good to know you're okay too.

[earthlychild]

The dream that wasn't really a dream. And then I get the strangest feeling something else happened just recently. Someone was after you.

[She sighs and smooths her skirt.] I just wanted to be sure you were all right with all that.

[rewritethis]

[He glances up from the tea.] "Feeling"? So you're saying you don't remember for sure?

[seethelanterns]

As long as you are okay now, Ed. That's what matters. Things seem to be back to normal now, at least. I think most if not all of us figured some things seemed a bit...strange before, so it's all right. It's not your fault.

- Rapunzel.

[rewritethis]

I know it isn't. But I'm sorry anyway.

[seethelanterns]

I suppose, it did cause some confusion this time, some of us having different memories and all.

[rewritethis]

Confusing is one way to describe THOSE memories, sure. I just wanted to check they didn't hurt anyone more than that.

[seethelanterns]

I'm sure people understand, Ed. I'm still a little confused myself by what I remembered then. I guess it shows how different things might have turned out though.

[rewritethis]

I wouldn't read so much into every little thing this Time Compression crap decides to pull. It was just another way of screwing with us, that's all. Honestly, I'd rather just forget about it.