Notes: Part two for the human transmutation. This is Al's memories before he gets his memories of the Gate back so it won't line up like these normally would. I hope you enjoy anyways!

I followed my brother's lead and knelt over the circle. He turned and smiled at me, barely hiding his excitement. After all, I was always better at staying calm even if I was just as excited as I knew he was.

"Okay, this is it, Al," he grinned.

"Hmm," I agreed, smiling softly back. Then I activated the circle with my brother. Immediately the white chalk shone blue, my heart quickened, and I stared intently at the center of the circle, willing the flashing lightning to begin its work.

Come on, nearly there…

Then the energy from the circle changed its course and an odd sense of foreboding crawled its way up my spine. Mist rose from the circle, flowing in the wrong direction for the circle to be working. The blue light vanished, replaced with faded white, and the crackling of the electricity vanished.

"Um, Ed…. Something doesn't feel right," I whispered, watching the circle as he looked around.

There must be a reason why this was forbidden, maybe we shouldn't be doing this.

There was a sickening sucking sound as a single eye opened in the circle, right under out tub of components. Black vines stretch in random from the floor, like they had been waiting to be released. A few of the closer ones sprouted hands and suddenly shot towards me. I tried to jump away but one brushed my wrist, and my hand burst away from my arm. Agony coursed through me carried by my own blood and nervous system. Dimly I was aware the I wasn't losing any blood and that that was odd, but in the moment the pain was all that mattered. The pain, and finding a way to make it stop.

"Al," called Ed before he started to scream too. My focus was my own needs in an instant and I saw his leg was starting to dissolve like my arm.

Oh no! Leave him alone!

I don't notice the way more hands were shooting towards me until it was too late. They started to grab any part of me they could touch, searing through flesh, blood, and bone. I was off my feet in second but I fought with all I had.

This isn't going to be enough. I need help.

"Bother! Ed," I called to him where he lay on the ground. He looked up to me fear danced across his features. He maneuvered closer to me and stretched a hand to me.

"Al," he yelled, pleading for me to do something that was now out of my control. I felt fire and ice encompass me, freezing and burning me as the hands brushed my head. Then everything was gone, the image of my brother burning behind my mind's eye, and his screams ringing in my soul.

The first thing I noticed when I reached consciousness again, was that the burning ice pain was gone. I felt neither hot nor cold. In fact, my skin wasn't picking up anything at all. The only thing I did feel was dizzy and disoriented.

Edward.

Oh no! I forgot, Brother was hurt!

"B-brother…" I asked, slightly stunned by the metallic ring to my words. I put my hand to my head, but never felt it connect. It was only because I met a form of resistance that I guess something was blocking its path. I moved my hand so I could look at it and gasp.

Leather glove?

I sat up and looked down at my torso and legs.

Why am I in the armor?

I looked around with my sight higher up than I remembered and saw Ed.

"Bother!"

I stood and ran to him, the ring on my steel feet echoing through my hollow body and off the stone floor. Ed was slumped against the wall by the bookcase, his right arm and left leg missing. Blood flowed freely from his wounds and pooled around him like a sick, red lake. I moved my hand to him and touched his face. I couldn't feel him. No heat. No cold. No soft flesh. No moisture, and no dryness. And because of my lack of feeling, I couldn't tell if he was alive or not.

"Brother, talk to me. Please say something," I pleaded as I moved the bags out of his face. His eyes were closed, but his mouth was open. And moving ever so slightly as the air flowed past his lips.

Oh, thank goodness! He's alive!

But he won't be for long if I don't get him to help. But who?

Granny. Go to Granny. She will know how to deal with this.

Clearly, brother was out cold, but I spook to him anyways. Mostly to keep myself calm and to help me think clearly so as not to let the panic in my stomach reach my mind and movements.

"Okay, Brother. I'm going to lean you forward so I can get behind you… I'm going to pick you up now so hold still. Good, alright. N-now, let's go."

W-what… i-is that…did we make mom…in to that…?

An unholy creature, with coal skin and jutting bones, lay in the now inactive human transmutation circle. It's empty red eyes stared at nothing and its unnaturally dark crimson blood had already started to dry around it. My nonexistent heart curled like a child ringing out a rag.

I could have stayed frozen there forever, but a soft groan from the fragile burden in my arms caused me to spring into action. I ran from the basement and shot out of the house into the calm rainy night. I couldn't feel the water on my not metallic skin, but I could plainly see the water moisten my brother's hair, clothes, face. I had hoped it would wash away some of the blood, but it's soft falling only seemed to make the wounds appear worst. He groaned again so I started to talk.

"We are going to Granny's. She can help you, but you must hang on until then, okay? You can't die," I said, feeling the fear fuel my sprint.

Please. I can't leave me too. I don't know what's going on. I need you, please.

Now that the road was less winding and more solid, I risked a glance at my brother's face. Ice settled in my soul and almost made me immobile. His mouth was no longer moving and he had gone horribly limp, his face, which had been pinched with pain, was now slack and peaceful.

…no…Brother, please… Don't. No!

"Ed…?"

His face pinched in again and his eyes opened. Slowly they made their way up to the eye hole in my new helmet. Relief coursed through me and almost made me fall. Instead, I focused myself on keeping moving.

"Hang on, Brother. I'm taking you to Granny."

"…Al..."

"I'm here. I'm not leaving you."

Please stay too. Don't leave me.

He leaned into my grip and closed his clouded gold eyes again. I kept talking to him, even though I got the feeling he could hear my voice anymore.

I didn't bother to knock as I opened the door. Winry gave a small shriek and granny just about jumped out of her skin. I collapsed to my knees so they could see my small, treasured, load. I couldn't speak.

"Ed..." whispered Winry.

"Edward… Winry get the operating room ready," ordered Granny, recovering from her shock first and grabbing a rolling stretcher nearby. Winry darted from the room.

I gently set him on it.

"I-is he…" Couldn't bring myself to say it so I changed tactics. "Can you, you know…. Save him?" Granny froze and stared into my armor for a moment before understanding and horror crossed her small, wrinkled face.

"Alphonse," she whispered before her stern gaze returned. "He's alive, and we are going to try to keep it that way. Stay here."

She swiftly rolled my brother way and left me standing alone in the front room with the rain crying and screaming my agony for me. That was the exact moment, when the weight of everything crashed over me at last, that I discovered armor can't cry.

Wow, that went quicker that I thought and it's shorter than the last one, but hopefully just as good. If you care, leave a review! Next up are the moments with a sustain scarred murderer.