Title: Following The Leader
Author: M14Mouse
Series: Manga/Brotherhood
Rating: PG13
Characters/Pairings: Alphonse and Edward Elric
Summary: Alphonse would follow his big brother anywhere. But in that moment…he knew. He couldn't.
Prompt: "Set Free"
When Alphonse was younger, he followed his big brother anywhere. He followed his brother up trees, into nearby fields, into rivers, and into trouble. He followed him willingly into helping their mother and into the quest.
He has followed him into countless battle field.
Now, he had followed him into their final one.
And they were losing.
They throw flame, lightening, earth, and steel at it.
It didn't bend but neither did they.
Then he took a hit or it was more like a series of hits. His armor body couldn't hold up to it. He felt disconnected as it fell into pieces. His world twisted and turned before it became upside down.
He watched the blast of fire and light smashed into the ground. He watched as people scream and run away around him. He saw smoke rose from the burned earth.
He watched his big brother and the others fight.
In all of that chaos, he had a moment of clarify.
It was as clear as the lake near their home.
He had to set his brother free.
If he did this, it would give them a chance to win.
If he did this, his big brother was going to kill him.
For once, he couldn't follow his big brother.
He won't be the constant shadow at his brother's side. He won't be the back up in the heat of battle or his partner in his latest idea.
No, his big brother will be alone. He knew that his brother hated being alone.
He watched the metal twist into his brother's arm. He watched the pain on his brother's face. It was now or never. God, forgive him what he was about to ask from one little girl….the burden that he was about to place on her.
"May…I have a favor to ask of you. My brother sacrificed his right arm to pull my soul back from that place. If that an "Equivalent exchange"…then it should be reverse it," He said calmly.
"Mr. Alphonse…what are you planning to do?" May said.
He heard the shock and pain in her voice. He didn't want to ask her of this but he must. He had no choice.
"I just need you to create a path for me."
"If I do that, Mr. Alphonse, you'll…," May shouted.
He saw the tears in her eyes. He saw the angst…He had to steel himself away from her pain. He had to be strong. He had to cut her off. He could feel it. The cracking of his armor…piece by piece.
"There's no more time…Time is. Please, you're the only one…I can ask this favor of."
He saw the tears rolled down her eyes. Then he saw it. The determination in her eyes…
He watched May throw her knives into the wall. He brought his hands up. He heard his brother's voice.
"Al, what are you…? No…no, you can't. AL…Don't do it!" His brother shouted.
A sense of understanding and peace washed over of him.
"You better win…big brother," He said as he clapped his hands together.
He heard his brother scream as his world turned white.
When his world became clear again, he saw himself sitting down before him.
"Are you sure about this?" His other self said.
"I am. Now I'll just have faith in my big brother."
He did have faith…he knew once his big brother won. He knew that his big brother would follow right behind him.
End
A/N: Read and Review if you wish.
