This is my home now…
I looked up at the gate with Al. He had come through with me, and even though I wanted him to stay back in Amestris, I was glad he was here with me. I didn't like this world that much; all the fighting and racism, but with Al with me I could bear it.
"Destroying that Gate without Alchemy is going to be a challenge." I said
"Between the two of us, we'll figure it out." Said Al.
We looked at each other for moment and then looked back up. I knew we could, but I would still miss using alchemy.
I turned to look at everybody. Hughes had a surprised and shocked look on his face so I assumed he now knew all my 'crazy stories' were all real. Then there was Eckhart ; I felt sorry for her. Not because she was dead, but because she was a low pathetic woman, and had to die like that. Noa, she looked both happy for me to be with Al, and sad because Alfons Heiderich was dead. I couldn't blame her, Alfons was my only friend in this world. I walked over to him silently and knelt down beside him.
"I will never forget you Alfons" I said in German.
I closed his eyes with my hand and couldn't help feeling that his death was partly my fault. He had died trying to get me home, and it was all for nothing. Same with my father, he sacrificed himself for nothing. I stood up and wiped the tears from my eyes not knowing I was crying. I looked at Al; he seemed shocked, but who wouldn't be after seeing their alternate dead?
"Al" I said.
That seemed to break his thoughts. He regained his composure and looked up at me.
"Yes brother?"
"We should get started" I said looking back up at the gate.
"Y-Yeah"
Alfons funeral was a quiet and sad one. I wondered what would've happened if he wasn't shot, if he would've lived. Then I remembered that he was sick, and sooner or later he would've died just like mom. In away it was starting all over again. We had to track down that bomb in this world, and I was pretty sure I would have to fight in a great war sooner or later, but I hoped that wouldn't happen. Either way this world was my home now, and I would live in do my part in it with Al.
"Brother?"
I looked at Al. We were back in our apartment now, and Al had a hesitant look on his face.
"What is it Al?" I asked a bit concerned.
"It's nothing important, but when Mustang let me get on that ship he gave me this"
Al held up a pocket watch that the state alchemist's wore.
"He said you might want it"
I took it from Al's hand and looked at it.
"Thanks Al" I said.
I wasn't sure why the general thought I would want it, but it was a piece of home to me so I decided to keep it.
A little while later I decided to engrave it in the inside like I did with my old one. I had written "Don't Forget" when I hesitated with the date. After all that had happened I decided to choose a more recent date: November 8th of the current year. That way I would never forget Alfons and everything else that happened that day. It also told me that I couldn't go back home, but I didn't care. As long as I was with Al in this world and we were together I could call this world "Home".