Title: Moving Forward
Author: Kristen Sharpe
Date: October 3, 2014
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: "Fullmetal Alchemist" belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, Square ENIX, Studio BONES and various other parties.
Author's Note: Just a little something for "FMA Day". Any continuity.

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Edward Elric still smelled of smoke when he stepped onto the morning’s first train out of Resembool.  The scent trailed him down the aisle as he mechanically picked a seat in the empty car.  Al followed with only a soft clatter from his armor.

The whole world seemed hushed, stilled by the enormity of what they were undertaking.  Most of their old life lay behind them in ashes both metaphorical and literal.  Their new life stretched ahead in a tangle of hopes and fears.

A whistle abruptly split the silence, and the train lurched into motion.  Impulsively, Ed moved too.  He leapt up and shoved down the window beside his seat.  Chill, pre-dawn air rushed into the train car, and Ed turned his face into its cold blast.  It swept over him, around him, driving away the clinging scent of the past.

There was nowhere to go but forward now.