Chapter 2: I Must Be Dreaming
-Amestris-
I finally feel my self waking up. That experience was like no other! I felt as if I were traveling at the speed of light! As my senses slowly begin to return, the first thing I notice is a panicking voice.
"Oh God! What have I done? I warned him not to get too close... This is all my fault!"
I recognize that voice. It's Alfonse's voice! I have no idea what on earth he is talking about, but I have to make sure he is okay. The reaction may have affected his Tuberculosis. I finally manage to open my eyes some. "Al...?" My voice sounds ragged.
"ED! You're alright! It is a good thing my theory wasn't corr- wait... Ed, something about you seems a little off..."
I mustered the strength to sit myself upright. Looking around, I realize we are in a study. Al must have brought me here. "Hey Al, where are we?" I looked at my little brother. My eyes widened in astonishment as I realize that Al... wasn't the Al I Al look-alike had a similar expression.
"Who are you?" we both said at the same time.
-Munich-
Man, whatever that transmutation did, I hope I don't ever have to do it again. I felt my senses returning to normal as the world finally stopped spinning. I force my eyes open and sit up, taking in my surroundings. I am in a lab of some sort, but it looks like an accident occurred recently. I checked my automail leg, and the reaction seems not to have damaged it. I stagger to my feet and try to figure out where I am.
"Al! Al! Where are you? Alphonse!" I called for him, but I wasn't having any luck. I walk to what I hoped was the exit, and heard a faint voice. I would recognize it anywhere, it is Al. I run to the voice and finally see his familiar blond hair. "Hey Alphonse, I don't think your theory is even close to being finished."
When he turned around, I was shocked. I grabbed the imposter by the collar. The Al I knew wasn't able to walk on his own yet. "What have you done to my brother?" we both demand at the same time.
-Amestris-
"Okay, let me get this straight. You have a brother that looks exactly like me, and even has the same name as me?" I questioned this stranger, whose name I learned was Alphonse Elric, after hearing his preposterous tale. "I don't believe you. Will put you up to this. Man, I knew he didn't like me, but this is over the top!" Alphonse looked confused.
"I am telling the truth! I don't even know anyone named Will, and my brother Ed doesn't look exactly like you. He has golden eyes, not blue, and his hair is a lot longer. The most obvious is your left leg. Ed's is automail."
"Auto what?"
"Automail, they are steel prosthetics used when you lose part of your body. I works the same way the flesh and blood limb would."
"That's amazing. So, Mr. Elric, can you tell me which direction Munich is?"
Alphonse shook his head. "Sorry, I haven't heard of it."
"Where in Germany are we?" I couldn't believe there was a town so closed-off that they hadn't even heard of Munich.
"... Did you hit your head or something? No place called Germany even exists." I stared at him. He had to be joking. He had to be!
"Please tell me you're joking!" He shook his head. "What am I going to do about this! Apparently, I am in an alternate universe where I happen to have taken the place of this world's Edward! This is so unbelievable! I have to get home!"
"You know, you really do look similar. You both even have the same short height!"
I glare at him. "I am NOT SHORT you jerk! Everyone else is too tall!"
"Yep, you even have his temper." I tackled a laughing Alphonse, and he got up as if nothing happened. "Brother is a lot stronger than you are. He'll be fine in your world, I'm sure of it!"
I nodded in agreement. If this kid's brother was everything he said he was, then he might have a chance of surviving, as long as he didn't draw too much attention to himself.
-Munich-
"Start explaining. Just where in the hell am I?" I was not in the mood to be dealing with this crap. I thought when I gave up alchemy I wouldn't have to deal with stuff like this. The kid, Alfonse Heidrich, was still gaping at me. "Just take me to your house, or whatever. We can talk in private there." He nodded and started leading me to his home.
As we wove through the crowded city streets, I noticed a number of military men patrolling the streets. "Is there a lot of crime here? I've never seen so many military personnel patrol one city." Alfonse motioned for me to be quiet, and pointed to a brick building. I silently followed him up a few flights of stairs. We entered a door in a hallway similar to those in military barracks. Once inside, Alfonse started to explain.
"First off, you are in a city called Munich in Germany. The year is 1935 and we are now in a time of war. World War II to be exact."
"There have been more than one world wars? I thought Amestris was bad..." Ed thought the chance of a worldwide war was slim, but two world wars? That was unthinkable!
"Nazi Germany is under the reign of Hitler, and if you are Jewish, crippled, or sick you die. You also die if you don't have blond hair and blue eyes, which is why My brother and I were safe." This reminded me a bit of the Ishvalan massacre.
After Alfonse finished explaining this world and the war, I told him about Amestris and alchemy. When I finished, he looked at me with disbelief. I expected him to ask questions, but he didn't.
Instead he burst out laughing. "You would make a great story-teller, really! In your world, people have metal limbs and go around using magic? That's ridiculous!"
I narrowed my eyes. "It's alchemy, not magic you moron! Everything I said is true! I'll show you proof!"
"Well, give me a demonstration of this alchemy. You seemed to be good at it, from what you said."
I shook my head. "I can't. I traded my alchemy about six months ago."
"What could be so important to trade away what you focused on your entire life?" He seemed skeptical on how I might answer. I look at him and say one thing.
"My little brother." This shuts him up. He knows what it's like having a close bond with a brother. "Now, I am going to show you automail, or 'metal limbs' as you so graciously called it." I rolled my eyes saying this.
"We have prosthetics here too, you know." I smirk and reach down to my left leg and roll up my pant leg. He gasped as my automail was in full view, gleaming from the rays of the setting sun bouncing off it.
"Believe me now?" He nodded and I hid my leg once again.
"You need to keep that hidden. If the Nazis find out-"
"They aren't going to find out. I've had this leg for five years, I've gotten pretty good about keeping it a secret." I smirk again at his expression.
"What happened?" This question made my mood turn dark.
"I made a mistake. This is the punishment of those who cross into God's territory." I slowly stand up and walk into the next room. I won't let this boy see the mistakes I've made. That... thing... should forever be locked in my mind. Nobody deserved to see such a terrifying sight.
Alfonse watched me walk away. Pondering what I said, he vowed to himself to discover what secrets I was hiding. He was determined to help his brother return and to help me go back home.
A/N: YAY! Chapter 2 is up and running ^u^ I'm sorry this chapter is so short! I promise the next one will be at least 5,000 words! I swear it on my life! (or my ff account XP) I changed chapter 1 because I noticed I accidentally narrated some parts in the 3rd person. To be clear on the names, I have made a handy reminder:
Edward Elric= Ed
Edward Heidrich= Edward
Alphonse Elric= Alphonse
Alfonse Heidrich= Alfonse
Hope this clears up any confusion! Also, check for either -Munich- or -Amestris- to tell you which world they are in.
Thank you to my two awesomely fantastic reviewers oceanic moon and tiger 002! These two rock! Give the awesome reviewers the respect they deserve! If you want to be added to the list of awesomely fantastic people, you must review! Until next time!
Manga-neko signing out! :3
