Author's notes: This fic is set immediately after the series, but ignores the movie. Thus, obviously, spoilers for the entire series. This fic has no pairings, implied or otherwise. Finally, no, I don't own any of the characters. I just amuse myself by playing with them.

"I am not after you two because I was ordered to. It is because I am angry with the two of you. Why did you flee, without seeking my protection!"

-Roy Mustang, episode 43

Chapter 1: The Letter

Alphonse Elric had been home from training barely a month when he received a letter from Central Headquarters. The return address indicated it was from Colonel Roy Mustang, a name he heard Winry and Auntie Pinako mention several times in connection with his lost years as a walking suit of armor. As to what they said about him, Al could tell they both had mixed feelings about the Colonel. Auntie Pinako would say how Mustang manipulated Ed for his own gain, but then would counter that by mentioning he was trying to protect the brothers. Winry hardly ever mentioned him, and seemed generally uncomfortable when Mustang was mentioned. The one time Al asked her about it, she refused to talk about it and quickly changed the subject.

The only other contact Al had with Roy Mustang was from a letter he received from the Colonel, not long after he regained his body. It was a general and polite letter, asking if Al knew anything about Edward, how he was doing with his restored body and erased memory, and finally asked for a picture of himself. Al responded politely enough, even sending a recent picture, but didn't get into any specifics.

In short, Al had no real idea who Roy Mustang was. It frustrated him that everyone knew more about his recent past than he did, and this part seemed especially aggravating. Not remembering events was one thing, but Al hated the fact he completely forgot who so many people were.

Thus, Al was quite surprised when he read Mustang's recent letter.

Alphonse Elric,

I am glad to hear you are back from training. If you do not mind, I would like to ask you to set off on another journey, this time to see me in Central. There are some things I want to show you in regards to your years as a suit of armor, and I believe they will be of great interest to you. I may also be able to offer some assistance in your search for your brother Edward, as I understand he is still lost.

Please come at your earliest convenience, and I look forward to meeting you in Central.

Best Regards,

Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist

"I don't want you going over there, chances are he'll want to turn you into a State Alchemist," Auntie Pinako said as soon as Al mentioned Mustang's invitation to Central. "Your brother went through so much trouble because he was a State Alchemist, and I don't want you to have to go through the same thing."

"But I already went through all that," Al protested. "I was with him during that time and it couldn't have been too bad. Besides, there's no mention about becoming a State Alchemist. This is just a request for a visit."

"That man is not one to give up information so easily," Pinako shot back. "Do you think you can just go up to Central Headquarters and go through their files without any kind of military association?"

"I'm not planning to go through military files, I just want to talk to the Colonel and find out what he knows."

"Then before you know it he'll have talked you into becoming a State Alchemist. This is a bad idea, Alphonse, and I don't want you meeting that man."

Al exploded. "I'll do whatever I want to learn about my past and find my brother, even if it means becoming a State Alchemist!" He then turned and stormed out the room and up the stairs.

Al sat fuming in his room. Here was an excellent chance to learn more about his past, and possibly get a little closer to finding out what happened to his brother, and Auntie Pinako shot it down as soon as she heard it. Why was she so against him becoming a State Alchemist in the first place? State Alchemists had access to virtually all of the country's documents about alchemy, and they were given generous government grants to study whatever they wanted. More importantly, didn't she know how important it was to him to find his brother? All his training, all his studying, everything he had done during the past year was to get closer to finding Ed.

He picked up the letter and scanned it once again. This could very well be the key Al was looking for all this time. Determination began to well up in him, and he quickly made his decision.

"I am going to do whatever it takes to find my brother, no matter what anyone says." With that, he pulled his suitcase from under his bed, and began throwing in some clothes, a few books and anything else he needed. He had a feeling he wouldn't be back for a long while.

"All aboard the 10:15 train to Central City! The train will be leaving in six minutes!"

The connecting train to Central City was much more crowded than the one he left Risenboul on, thus it took a while before Al found an empty seat. He tried to get as comfortable as he could once he sat down, since train rides usually left him a little sore. A few more people wandered into the car, but most just ignored him, or else gave him a passing smile. There was one old woman, however, who stopped next to Al and mentioned how brave he must be for riding a train all alone while he was still such a young child. She smiled at him and walked off before Al could say anything. He didn't quite get what the old lady was talking about until he looked at his hands and was reminded of how young he looked. Even though he was sixteen, he still had the body of an eleven year old. Al sighed as he leaned back in his seat. This problem was going to be with him for a while.

As the train pulled out of the station, Al gazed out the window and watched as the town grew thinner and thinner, until there was nothing but countryside, dotted with the occasional farm. He soon got tired of the blurred scenery, and let his mind wander back to the events that happened earlier that day.

Al came down the stairs earlier than usual that morning. He was wearing blue denim pants, a black undershirt, a white button down shirt he left open, and was holding his green coat and suitcase. He looked like a normal eleven year old, perhaps a little on the tall side. His golden hair was cut short, and his gray eyes showed his determination. Perfectly normal, except for the fact that he was really sixteen.

"What are you doing with that suitcase?" Auntie Pinako asked as soon as she saw Al.

"I'm going to Central to meet Roy Mustang," Al replied in a firm voice.

Pinako sighed and took a breath from her pipe. "You're getting just as stubborn as your brother."

Auntie Pinako wasn't really Al and Ed's aunt, but she was their parental figure for a good portion of their life. When Winry's parents were killed in the war when she was still little, it was up to her grandmother, Pinako, to look after her. Then when Al and Ed's mother died a year later and there was still no word from their absent father, Pinako looked after them as well. She was a short, somewhat stout woman, who had a hands-off method of parenting. She would give her advice, sigh as it was promptly ignored, but was there for them once the children learned their lesson the hard way.

This time was no different, and she merely made sure Al ate a good breakfast before he left.

Al was about to open the front door when he heard Winry run down the steps.

"You wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to me, now would you?" she said once she reached Al. "Come on, I'll walk you to the station."

The two headed out once Al was finished saying his final goodbye to Pinako and Den. It was a late spring morning, a little cooler than it had previously been. It was quiet, just like it always was in Risenboul. It was one of the things Al always liked about the village. There were always plenty of places to run around and play without worry of cars or strangers, or anything else for that matter. Everyone at least knew of each other, and Al tried his best to be friendly with everyone. Al realized how much he would miss that while he was in Central.

As they passed the old stone wall where he, Ed, and Winry played on when they were children, Al got a sudden rush of memories. He remembered them all laughing and chasing each other around, happy as ever. That was when they were all still innocent, when nobody had died yet, when they could just be kids without a care in the world. Then Winry's parents were killed in the Ishbal war, then his own mother died, then he and Ed attempted the ultimate taboo, human transmutation, and paid the price for it. Al sighed as he walked on, knowing that they could never go back to that time.

"Promise me something, Al," Winry said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, what is it?" Al replied as he was brought back to the present.

"Promise me you'll tell me what happens during your trip."

Al nodded his head. "Of course I'll tell you."

"Good. The thing I hated most about Ed is that he never told me anything. When something happened to him, especially something bad or dangerous, it was nearly impossible for me to get him to say anything about it."

Al paused for a moment in thought. "Well, maybe he wouldn't tell you because he knew it would just worry you."

Al realized too late that that was the wrong thing to say.

"What do you mean he didn't want to make me worry! Didn't he know that not telling me just made me worry anyway! Besides, I would've handled it just fine!" With that, Winry turned and stormed ahead. "And remember, you promised me!" she yelled back at him.

Al made a mental note to keep his promise as much as he possibly could.

At the train station, Al made sure he had all the right information on which train to transfer to, then stood next to Winry.

"Are you sure you're going to be all right?" Winry asked.

"I'll be fine," Al replied, smiling.

"Okay, just don't do anything really stupid." She got up and gave him a hug, then pushed him toward the train. "Better hurry up before you miss it!"

"Bye Winry! I'll make sure to write!" Al yelled just before he boarded the train. It was mostly empty, so he didn't have a problem finding a seat where he could still see Winry. He shouted one last goodbye to her, and watched her wave from the station as the train pulled out, he figure getting smaller and smaller, until Al could no longer see her.

The train whistle woke Al from his thoughts. They were crossing a major road that lead into Central, and Al could see the big city not too far away. It seemed to spread out forever, and even here at the outskirts there was constant activity. Al had been to Newbrook, the small city closest to Risenboul, a few times, and was always impressed by how busy it always was. Central, however, dwarfed Newbrook by at least ten times, maybe even a hundred. Cars and people were everywhere, and there was a constant noise that hung over everything. As he passed what could have been the twentieth tall office building, Al began to notice the different smells of the city. Everything was so different, it was as if he had arrived at a whole new planet.

"Well, this is it," he said to himself as the train came to a stop in Central Station. His stomach, which had been calm throughout the train ride, started to act up, and Al realized how nervous he was. Taking a deep breath, Al followed the crowd off the train, and it was only when he got on the platform did he realize he had no idea what Roy Mustang looked like.