Edward blinked tired, bleary eyes as the blurry image of the ceiling came into view. He popped his ears as he bit his dry lips, he groaned. He was so damn sweaty.

He hated waking up like this.

He lifted up his shirt a bit with his arm, letting his stomach get some cool air as his head flopped back onto his flat, worn down pillow. He allowed his mind to find peace once more as he closed his eyes. His consciousness was almost completely gone when-

"Brother," Alphonse groaned, his entrance was accompanied by a door slamming open, "I can't count how many times I've had to pull your shirt down." the copper haired boy muttered to himself, reaching to pull his older brother's shirt down.

"Nooooooo." Ed whined, "T's too hot." in his half awake state he was dead set on keeping his stomach out.

"I see you're finally awake." Al grinned a bit as he administered a cool, damp cloth to Edward's forehead. Ed sighed in bliss at the cold feeling on his head. "Now will you let me pull your shirt down? It's a bad habit." the younger boy smirked.

"Nah." Ed sighed, "Tummy needs ta' breathe, you know that Al."

A roll of the eyes was followed by Al helping Ed sit up enough to drink a glass of water without choking him. Ed drank it quickly and gratefully, sighing happily once he'd downed the glass.

"Slow down brother, we don't want you getting hiccups."

Ed simply shrugged in response, stretching out with a yawn. "Hiccups ain't gonna kill me." he paused as he noticed an absence on his left leg. "Hey where's my-"

"I had to take your prosthetic off, it made lifting you a bit of a challenge because the weight was unbalanced." Al explained, awkwardly sparing a glance to the box of legs in the corner.

"It's okay, I usually take it off anyways…" Ed trailed off, "Hey, what happened yesterday? I can't… remember much, it's all foggy."

Al swallowed sheepishly, "Well it seems like you got into an argument with Heiderich. When Noah and I opened the door, you were both passed out on the floor."

Ed's head ached again as he recalled the events of the previous day, he felt awful immediately as he remembered Alfons' mental breakdown he'd caused. It wasn't something that happened suddenly either, it had been building up for a while. The damn had broken, letting all his feelings loose to flood Ed's heart with guilt.

However, the thing that had him thinking was that voice he'd heard… the painfully familiar one.

"What have you done to my little brother?!"

Ed had heard that voice before… back in his first visit to this world...in London.


Edward ran as siren blared in his ears, all he could do was follow his sorry excuse for a father through the unknown city. He panted heavily as he ran, asking things aloud in confusion, "Where the hell am I? Wh-what city is this?"

"Hello?" a voice extremely like his own echoed in his head, stopping Ed in his tracks. He breathed heavily as he looked around.

"Who are you!?" the voice seemed scared, and panicked.

Ed held his head as tears grew in his eyes, "Fucking hell, I think I'm in someone else's body!" Hohenheim's blurry figure looked back at him. The body Edward inhabited swayed back and forth as Hohenheim caught him and tossed Ed's small form over his shoulder.

"Let go, ya bastard…" Ed mumbled, half consciously beating Hohenheim's back with small protests.

"Just let my damn father carry me to safety you asshole!"

"Your father?" Edward thought back, "I'm pretty sure this piece of shit is mine."

"That's my dad, he's been my dad my whole life. Made me even learn the damn violin."

Edward huffed, "Well I mean, he has been my dad my whole life too, he just hasn't exactly been around. He left my family when I was five."

The voice sighed, "I think you're confused, can I have my damn body back now?"

"Well it's not like I know how to give it." Edward snarked back.

Their bickering made the time seem to fly by as Hohenheim set Ed down in a place outside the city where many other people had gathered as well. He forced himself up as he looked towards the city where explosions littered the streets, as odd bird like machines shot through the sky. What looked like large hot air balloons followed in the air attack.

"Wow, this is incredible." Edward breathed as Hohenheim turned to him, "How come I've never heard of these flying machines?" he gazed up in wonder.

"They're called planes dumbass." the voice inside his head grumbled.

"It seems in this world scientific study developed along a different track…" Hohenheim trailed off, "Physics and advanced machinery instead of Alchemy, came as quite a shock to me too when I arrived."

Edward gasped as the voice in his head piped up, "Wait, what does he mean 'arrived'?"

Edward ignored the voice, "In this world?" he questioned as the copper haired man turned to him.

"You see, I thought you'd figure it out, this is… the other side of the gate."

Ed listened on as the voice in his head questioned, "Gate?"

"This world is tragically violent, through the course of this war millions of people have been killed with highly toxic gases. Yet, the single most terrifying instrument of death is yet to come." he turned to Ed, "You saw it in the gate, didn't you?"

The vision of an explosion beyond belief flashed in his mind, it could wipe out millions in an instant.

Hohenheim sighed, "The lives of those that have died and will die in this world become the energy for the alchemy used in ours."

Edward grit his teeth, "The energy?! What about the law of Equivalent Exchange?! That doesn't make any sen-"

"The law of Equivalent Exchange?" Hohenheim echoed, "There's something you need to understand." he took a moment and turned to his son, "It takes more than equal mass to restore a broken radio, the energy used to put it back together must come from somewhere too. And energy cannot be created or destroyed, only redirected."

Edward swallowed roughly and shut his eyes tight, "So… that's the secret? The lives of the people who die here cross the gate and become the energy we need for transmutations…" his voice broke, "Is that what you're telling me?"

Hohenheim placed a hand over his heart, "Inside all of us there lies a smaller version of the gate, alchemists have the ability to open that gate and feed off the tragedies of this world."

Edward glared up at the man, "You sound just like that headcase Dante! You're spouting the same shit about there being no equivalent exchange."

Hohenheim looked away in shame, "I wasn't aware you knew about her…"

"I know everything you damn bastard." Edward inhaled shakily, "I know the two of you were lovers, I know you've been keeping yourselves alive by jumping from one body to another." Tears grew in his eyes, "IF YOU AND THAT EVIL BITCH WERE SO PERFECT TOGETHER!? WHY DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO MARRY MY MOTHER?!"

"I loved your mother… she was truly the only one I'd ever loved. You have to believe that."

Edward stepped towards him with shaky breaths,"Then why!? WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?!" he stepped back as Hohenheim pulled up his sleeve, revealing the decaying flesh on his arm.

"I couldn't let you see me like this, the thought was too much to bear."

Edward fought his tears back as he realized the voice had gone silent in his head, slightly panicking he thought, "Hey are you still there?!"

The voice only answered back, "That… is not my father…"

They listened on to Hohenheim's explanation, Edward understanding, and the voice in his head very much confused. The conversation was cut short however when a man whispered in Hohenheim's ear, and he quickly followed.

Ed saw him walking off and quickly made chase, in fear he'd be left alone in the foreign world, "H-hey! Wait!"

He caught up to his father who told him things that made anger rise in his chest before his car drove away. Ed walked on the path in the opposite direction, muttering to himself, unsure of what to do next.

"What bullshit. All that about me and Al being his greatest gifts. If we really were than he wouldn't have left me stranded here like this." tears appeared again as he continued to walk.

"Al?" the one in his head asked, "I know an Al… he's my brother."

"Probably my Al's alter." Ed responded feeling sad, "My brother's in awful trouble right now… I've gotta get home."

"I don't completely understand everything that man I thought was my father said but, the sooner the better."

Before Ed could respond a loud explosion was heard from above as one of the giant air balloon devices began to fall from the sky, heading right towards him.

"A zeppelin!" the voice shouted as Ed ran the other way, but soon found himself lost in the flames, trapped underneath a bar of metal.

Ed did all he could just to weakly clap his hands and attempt to transmute, but found failure as nothing happened. Before he could even think to apologize to his alternate self, he was buried in debris, and the body's skull was crushed.


"Brother, are you okay?" Al broke him from his thoughts, "You've been staring off into space for a minute or two.

"I'm okay," Ed reassured, "Just… thinking." he took a deep shaky breath, that voice was undeniably the other Ed, but he couldn't hear him now.

Edward held his head, it didn't make sense, why did the other Ed show up? It made no sense, where was the equivalent exchange? Ed wracked his brain as he went to stand up,only to be pushed down by Al.

"Please brother, stay down. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."

Ed chuckled and patted Al's head, "I have a feeling it won't happen again." he glanced at Al's outfit, it looked wrinkled and worn. "Have you changed clothes since you got here?"

Al blushed and gave a sheepish look, "No, I haven't gotten a chance to get any clothes."

Ed smiled, "Well, you are, sadly almost as tall as me, so we'll have to settle for my clothes though they'll be a little big on you." Al gave Ed one of his legs, and with thanks the golden brother made his way to the dresser in the corner of the room.

He tossed a button up white shirt, slacks, a vest, and a pair of underwear onto the bed. "I'll leave for the kitchen while you get dressed. we'll have to get you clothes somewhere soon cause we can't share forever. I just hope we can find some decent things cheap enough."

Al tugged at his shirt, "Well I also have these clothes, we can just wash them, right?"

Ed bit his dry lips, "Well those clothes don't fit in well here, you'll stick out like a sore thumb and we don't want that." Ed ruffled up his brother's hair, "For now let's stick to my clothes."

"Okay big brother." Al grinned as Ed took his leave, allowing Al to get dressed. Ed entered the room to find Noah cooking and Alfons picking at his breakfast, not eating much. He glanced at Ed before looking back down on his food.

Noah gave Ed a grin before turning off the gas on the stove. "I made some pancakes and sausage. Will Al be out soon?"

"Yea, he should be…" Ed trailed off, taking a seat across from Alfons. He seemed extremely interested in rearranging the food on his plate. Edward folded his hands as Noah served him breakfast.

"You know it is my turn to cook, right?" Ed offered a small grin.

Noah sighed, "Yes but it was getting late and I was sure everyone would be hungry once everyone was awake."

"Oh, thanks."

Alphonse walked into the kitchen and stiffened at the sight of Alfons who's only acknowledgement was a small glare, his eyes however quickly returned to his uneaten eggs. Ed and Noah wished him a good morning as he took an awkward seat next to Heiderich.

A knot grew in his stomach as he attempted to subtly move his chair closer to his brother, the action however was met with loud chair noises, making his actions obvious. All eyes were on him as he simply grabbed his fork and began to eat, hoping his actions before were to be forgotten.

As breakfast was finished up and everyone had eaten Noah went downstairs to work with Gracia. Heiderich walked over to the counter and began to pour what seemed to be tea out a a kettle. Noticing his awkward stance, Edward turned to Alphonse, "Hey, it can get pretty boring around here. Most twelve year olds would be out with their friends but you don't really have any here. So I have some notes that you can look over with me."

"That sounds good!" the younger boy smiled.

"Wonderful!" Ed beamed, "I'll just go and get them and we can look em' over out here."

Al paled a bit, not happy with the idea of being left with Alfons, "O-okay big brother."

"I'll be back in just a minute." Ed stood up and headed towards his room as Al was left alone with his alternate self.

Alfons brought two cups of tea to the table back with him, he placed one in front of his chair, and the other in front of Al's. "Hello Alphonse."

"Hi…" Elric quietly trailed off.

"You look tense." the taller blonde mentioned, Alphonse stiffened even more, "Relax. I just want to ask you some questions." he slowly sipped his tea.

"O-okay." the copper haired boy stuttered.

"First off," Heiderich paused to take a sip, "Who are you?"

"I'm Alphonse Elric." Alphonse began to shake a little.

"No." Heiderich gazed at him with eyes full of intense suspicion, "Who are you really?"

"I just tol-"

"Don't feed me that bullshit. I know Eduard is my brother, now where did you come from and what do you want with me?"

Alphonse hesitated in his answer, "I ju-"

"I was making good progress with him, I swear that sometimes he was close to realizing what was real and what was not. To realizing who he was." Heiderich sipped his tea as he looked up at Al, "It isn't poisoned you know…"

Alphonse began to sweat more, what was taking Ed so long? "S-sorry, Mr. Heiderich-"

"Alfons."

"Oh uh, Alfons, but I am telling you the only truth I know. I've been looking for my brother the past two years and it turns out he wasn't even in my world…"

"Is that so?" Alfons laughed almost cruelly as he took an bigger, more aggressive sip.

Elric took a small sip of his own tea before continuing, "I'm sorry, I know you don't believe me… but it's the only truth I know."

"Will you stop the damn lies?!" Heiderich suddenly snapped as Alphonse spilled his tea in shock. "I just want to know why you want to take my big brother away from me!" tears flowed down Alfons' face, "I just want Eduard back…" he gripped the table.

"I know how you feel…" Al trailed off.

"What?"

"I know what it's like to lose a brother." A thought entered the copper haired boy's mind, "Tell me, have you ever dreamt of a prosthetics shop? A butcher and his wife? A suit of armor?"

Alfonse exhaled sharply, "What-"

"Cause I've dreamt of building flying machines that could reach the stars, working and living with Ed…"

Alfons went silent for a moment, he opened his mouth to say something else, but a distant noise interrupted him. "What the hell is that?"

He listened closer and his eyes widened, he took off running at the familiar sound. The blonde followed it to his bedroom and tossed the door open. The music, was so familiar and fun. Only someone skilled with the instrument could play it like that.

Edward was playing the violin like a pro, with expert movements and fluidity. He turned to Alfons as his eyes sparkled with recognition.

Tears of happiness formed, "Eduard!"

He beamed at the younger teen with the sparkle still in his eyes, "Alfons."

Alphonse was frozen in place, only able to utter a single word, "Edward?"

The golden haired teen stood and shrugged, "It's actually pronounced 'Eduard', Eduard Heiderich."


Just a note, 'Eduard' is pronounced slightly different than 'Edward', there is more emphasis on the 'U'. The same goes with Alfons' name, it is pronounced with more of a'U' sound at the end rather than an 'O'.

Thanks for reading! I always appreciate feedback! It really motivates me!