Chapter 2: Mirages
Al walked on after packing up camp and struggled through the blazing heat and a minor sandstorm. He saw someone standing on a sand dune with some sort of animal next to them. As he got closer, he could see through the swirling sand Nina and Alexander staring sadly at him, "Why did you leave us to die," asked Nina and the two swirled and formed the miserable chimera they became. The Sewn-Life Alchemist appeared behind her laughing hysterically.
Scar walked up from behind and blue sparks flashed as he grabbed the Sewn-Life Alchemist's face and blood splattered everywhere. "Daddy, does it hurt," the chimera whimpered. Scar kept walking towards her and said, "How pitiful I'll end your suffering." Al stared transfixed in horror as Scar grabbed Nina's face and a gust of sand destroyed the mirage.
Al stumbled through the blinding sandstorm until another image appeared in front of him, it was Martel. He watched Wrath come out of the clouds and draw his swords and begin the fight with the other chimeras, Martel screamed from inside Alphonse's armor as she heard her friends be cut down one by one. Greed and Wrath vanished into the storm of swirling sand and a few minutes later Wrath came out. Martel controlled Alphonse to choke the life out of Wrath, who just plunged his sword into Alphonse killing Martel; blood sprayed out and turned the sand scarlet red.
Another gust of sand blew the image away, and Barry the Chopper appeared next to Alphonse and his voice echoed all around Al, "Maybe you're just an armor doll…armor doll...armor doll." Al collapsed to his knees, and Barry walked towards him, "What if he just created all of your memories and created a soul to transfuse to your armor," said Barry.
Al lashed out in fury and clapped his hands together and stone spears launched at Barry, who raised his blades in surprise but the spears shot right through him destroying the mirage. Al ran through the sandstorm until it subsided and saw a cobblestone street appear covered in sand and a small village ahead. Finally, he had crossed the Great Desert and arrived in Xing. Al walked to the market and purchased some food and water and shoveled the food in his mouth, starving from the journey, and he chugged down half of his canteen thirsty as hell from crossing the desert.
Mei and Shao May dropped from the roof top and sat down in the chair across from Alphonse, "Alphonse-sama," yelled Mei in joy. Al laughed as she hugged him. Al noticed she had grown a lot and was up to his shoulders now, he cursed at himself because he had noticed she was maturing. She stared at him inquisitively wondering what he was thinking about. He went red under her stare as she tried to penetrate his thoughts.
"We should get going to see Ling at the capital then," she said breaking the awkward silence. Alphonse agreed quickly and they sprinted down the road out of the village until the walls of the capital could be seen on the horizon.
