Prologue:

Part 2:


"Edward its really you!" screamed Al falling to his knees and wrapping his brother in a bone crushing hug.

"Okay Al, I love you to, but you're sort of crushing me," wheezed Ed.

"Sorry brother," Al replied as he quickly released his brother, who fell back onto his knees, gasping for air.

"How did you get back?" Al asked excitedly.

"Can we talk about that later Al? It took a lot of energy, and Alchemy for that matter, to get back here, and I'm thoroughly exhausted." Ed gasped, still trying to regain his normal breathing pattern. "We are in Risembool, right?" Ed finished uncertainly.

"Yes, of course we are in Risembool." Al answered happily.

"Well then, can we go to the Rockbell's? I would guess that you're staying there." Edward replied looking excited at the prospect of a comfy bed.

"Well, where else would I be staying Brother? And of course we can start heading over there! We really should get going any way, considering we are about three miles away…" Al replied in a flurry of excitement as he dragged Ed up to his feet only to stop as the creak of metal reached his ears as Edward stood.

"Brother, you did get your limbs back didn't you?" Al asked turning around to give Edward a questioning glance.

"Well Alphonse, you see…" Ed began nervously.

"Did you or did you not get your limbs back?" Bellowed Alphonse.

"No Al I didn't. And don't you dare get it into your head that we have to go searching for a way to get them back either! I don't care if I get my limbs back or not. I'm just happy to be home." Edward replied giving Al a hard glare.

Al took a deep breathe and after a minute he answered, "are you absolutely, positively sure that you can live with automail Ed? I can forget about trying to get your limbs only if you're positively sure, I guess…"

"Yes Al, now, I would really like to get to a nice warm bed. It is cold out here." Edward replied smiling.

"Fine. Lets get moving then," Alphonse replied and found that he couldn't resist a smile either.

Ed took a step forward, but only toppled onto the ground with a thud.

"Brother!" screeched Al as he dropped to Ed's side in panic.

"I'm fine Al," gasped Ed as he sat up, "Damn. I knew that I had grown, but I thought that I wouldn't need a crutch when I got here."

"You mean that you were walking with a crutch?" Al asked, beginning to get even more panicked.

"Its okay Al. I just sort of out grew out of my automail, so I've had to walk with a crutch." Edward said, putting a hand on Al's shoulder and pulling himself to his feet.

Alphonse slowly stood and noticed that Ed looked to be about half a foot taller than him. Sighing Al stood and let Ed use his shoulder as a crutch.

"This is going to be a long trek," sighed Al as he helped his brother hobble forward as they began their long walk to the Rockbell's.


A/N: I hope I portrayed Ed and Al well enough! Review! Please?