"North City!"

"You told me to buy tickets for the earliest train!"

"North City!"

"I was only following your request!"

"North City."

"Shush, Ed, people are staring."

"But why did you have to buy tickets to North City, Al? What the hell are we going to find in North City?"

"One, I bought the tickets because you told me to buy tickets for the earliest train! And two, I don't know. A new adventure?"

"I'll tell you what I'm going to find: a better younger brother."

"...you don't mean that!" the younger brother cried.

Ed gave a small, light hearted laugh. "I don't."

Wanting to end his early morning spectacle, Alphonse dragged his brother into the train terminal and boarded the train set for the north. He was already a little annoyed with the fact that Ed had quickly rushed out of the Curtis house with a lackluster goodbye after all the couple had done for the boys, but this took the cake.

"Why do you have to be like this, Edward?" Al asked sharply once they were seated on the train.

The random question and the intensity Al used to ask it startled the ex-alchemist. "What do you mean?"

"Why do you love to cause trouble?"

"Something tells me cracking a joke here won't lighten the mood."

"Edward, please."

"I don't mean to cause trouble, Al. It just follows me. You of all people should know that."

"Hmph," was the younger brother gave in response.

Edward realized the Al was truly upset with him and tried to say something, but held his tongue when his brother frowned and turned his heads towards the window, signaling the end of their conversation. Ed stared at his brother's form very confused; he had no idea why Al was so mad, which was unsettling to him. He and Al knew almost everything about each other. Normally, he would be able to detect the course of his brother's foul mood and vanquish it. Edward had a feeling that Al as mad at him, but he didn't know how to fix it or what to say. He simply sat in silence, wondering what he did to offend Al. He could never figure it out, and the two brothers spent the twenty-four hour train ride in painful silence.

It was a new day, and they were still stuck on the train. Edward wasn't able to get much sleep; he floated in and out of consciousness throughout the train ride. Edward noticed that the temperature had taken an extreme drop since he was last awake. He turned to see his little brother Alphonse sleeping soundly next to him, his head resting lopsidedly on the window. Even though it's been over two years now, Ed still feels relief upon knowing that Al can now sleep again now that he has returned to his body.

Ed stretched and felt a shooting pain travel up his spine. He groaned in response and clutched his back. He was absolutely miserable, stuck on this train headed to a dreary cold place with a younger brother who may or may not be angry with him at this point.

"We will be arriving at Northern Station in a few minutes!" announced someone on the train.

Edward lightly pushed his brother's right shoulder. After two shoves, Al's golden hazel eyes opened slowly. Once the cold air of the north hit him, he shuddered violently. "Woah... it's cold," he muttered. He turned and looked at Ed blankly. "Any reason for so kindly waking me?" The tone of annoyance in his voice made Edward realize that Al was still angry with him.

"Yes, in a few minutes. I wonder how crowded Northern will be. You think it's anything like Central?"

"Northern is way more crowded than Central," said Al pointedly.

"More crowded than Central! That place is like a zoo!"

"Yes, but this is the only major city in the north. Therefore everyone in the north will be dependent on the city."

"Okay then, smarty pants," Ed joked.

Al didn't even crack a smile.

"Now, what were you saying about a crowded city, Al?" asked Ed mockingly, trying to joke with Al again to get a reaction out of him.

He got one, and it wasn't pleasant. "Shut it," snapped Al as the two brothers walked through the snow-covered and empty streets of Northern City. "Do you think they're going to let us in the Command Center?"

"Well, I was a state alchemist. They should."

"But you don't have your pocket watch and the people here don't know you well..."

The boys walked along the street towards Northern Command, unsure if they would even be able to enter. The numbing cold was putting a strain on the boys, as they found their pace becoming slower and slower. Suddenly, the boys were jolted awake as they found themselves being thrown on the ground and held around the arms. They began kicking and screaming, but the force holding them down was stronger than them.

"What? Get off of me!" screamed Edward at the top of his lungs. He turned his head to see that he was not being strangled, but rather hugged by a familiar person. And that familiar person was a very muscular man with a blonde mustache, bright blue eyes, and sparkles that probably have been passed down his family line for generations.

"OH ELRIC BROTHERS! IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE I HAVE SEEN YOUR YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL FACES. I AM SIMPLY OVERCOME WITH EMOTION!" yelled Armstrong as manly tears cascaded down his angular face.

"Hello... Major... I see you are wearing a shirt," commented Alphonse pitifully as he lay on the ground, crushed by the older man.

"It's Lieutenant Colonel now!" beamed the large, hulking man.

"Right... um... Colonel... Armstrong, what brings you to North City?" asked Edward.

"I'm doing some work for my sis- The General."

"So you're here working at the Northern Command for a while? Wanna to let us in?" asked Ed hopefully.

"I'D LOVE TO ESCORT MY LOVELY FRIENDS INSIDE OF THE COMMAND CENTER. Olivier might not be too pleased, but..."

"You'll let us in?"

"OF COURSE! FOLLOW ME!" By follow, the newly promoted Colonel actually meant "enjoy the ride", because he grabbed each of the brothers in a separate arm and ran to the center with them in tow. Edward cried out in protest, as he was already sore enough from the twenty-four hour train ride.

With the Colonel guiding them through, the Elrics were able to pass through Northern Command with no questions asked. Well, at first. Once their presence was known, General Armstrong asked for - no, demanded – them be brought into her office. The boys hadn't seen her since the promised day, when Al was still a suit of armor, so they didn't mind catching up with the General.

"So, that's what you really look like," she said with a matter-of-fact tone to Alphonse.

"That's not a very nice greeting, General," remarked Ed.

"I'm merely speaking the truth, Elric. Anyway, it's nice to see you boys again. Glad to see you are both well."

"Thanks, General," stated Alphonse. "You look well yourself. Have you been working out?"

The General sat back in her chair, crossed her legs, and placed her hands on top of her knee. "Oh, Alphonse, you flatter me so. I must keep in top shape to look after my men. It is my duty."

"OH SISTER, MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL HAVE A GLOURIOUS BODY COMPAREABLE TO MINE," chirped Colonel Armstrong from behind the brothers.

"Shut up, you pansy! Your body might be well-trained, but do not forget that you must also train the mind as well. And yours is nothing but hot air," General Armstrong snapped.

A tense, awkward air suddenly pierced the room, causing everyone to fall silent. General Olivier sat staring at her brother, who looked rather frightened of his older sister. Alphonse stood as still as a statue right in the middle of the room, his eyes studying the worn wood floor. Edward, being socially oblivious as usual, stood next to Alphonse whistling a random tune. After an eternity, he noticed the silence and gave a huge, drawn out yawn coupled with a massive stretch that nearly hit Al cross the face. "Wow, am I tired!" he stated. "I must have train lag or something." He laughed at his own miserable joke.

"OH EDWARD, ALLOW ME TO ESCORT YOU TO THE BARRACKS FOR SOME REST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPANY US, ALPHONSE?"

"No, thanks, Colonel," said Al, annoyance apparent on his face and in his tone.

"Oh, well, see you, Al," said Edward as he left with Armstrong. Al gave an angry sigh which was well noticed by the woman General.

"My brother is such an idiot," remarked Olivier. "And it looks like yours is as well."

"You don't even know the half of it."

Olivier raised one of her blonde eyebrows to a perfect arch, signaling interest. "Oh?" She pointed a gloved hand towards the black leather seat in front of her desk.

Al complied with her silent demand and sat down in the chair. "The only reason we're here is because Brother is running away from his own wedding."

Olivier's composure broke for a for a fraction of a second. "You're kidding. That coward. Why on earth would he run away from his own wedding?"

Al sighed. "I really don't know the answer to that. And I don't mean to disrespect my older brother, but I must say this: Even though Ed is a scientific genius, he's an idiot when it comes to relationships and people."

To that comment, the General laughed. "It's as if you're the older one."

The young boy breathed a deep breath and buried his face in his hands. "If I had a dollar for every time I heard that..." he muttered.

"It's alright. I hear that all of the time about Alex. But the funny thing is that I actually am the older one!"

Al's golden eyes shrunk in surprise. "What! No way!" The two began to laugh together.

"Yes, it's true. I'm older than Alex. I guess people assume otherwise due to our size differences."

Alphonse burst into joyous laughter. "I'm sorry but... that's too funny."

"Mm, yes, I suppose. But once you get to know the both of us, it is apparent that I am the eldest. You can see by the way my brother and I treat each other. Alex holds a certain respect towards me that I do not understand. I suppose it is something to with being younger sibling."

A little thrown off by this revelation, Al buried his face in his hands yet again. "I.. yes, you're right. It is."

Olivier's mouth tightened to a crease (although Alphonse could not see it). "No matter how I treat him, he always looks up to me. Sometimes I try to test how I far I can go with him. Other times, I fear what will happen if I lose his respect. He's may be a complete imbecile, but he's still my brother.

"If your brother is anything like me, it would be impossible for you to lose his respect."

Olivier did not respond to that, prompting Al to look up to see if he had crossed some sort of unspoken border. When he glanced at the General, he saw a very scary sight. Her ice blue eyes were fixated on him with a glare so magnificent, the boy felt as if she was piercing right into his soul. However, even scarier than that was the fact that her light pink lips were curled into a smile. And not one of her haughty smiles, either; it was a genuine smile. The Great Wall of Briggs – the mighty Ice Queen herself – was smiling at him. Al felt panic rise in his chest.

"... of course, I'm not like your brother..." Al added uncertainly.

"Be thankful for that," Olivier quipped. "It's just… your brother is a complete and utter idiot. Even worse than mine, I admit. And yet, you treat him with utmost respect and admiration. You're mad at him right now – I can see it – but you still revere him. Why is that?"

"I've seen a side of Ed nobody else has. I know what he is fully capable of. I know him better than myself and I… I owe so much to him."

"But isn't the woman he intended to marry your childhood best friend – as well as his – is she not? Do you harbor no anger towards for that?"

Alphonse frowned slightly, wondering how the General knew that it was Winry Ed was planning on marrying. Even greater was his confusion as to why Olivier was prying in on the matter. Nonetheless, he answered her question honestly."Yes, I am angry, but rather than abandoning my brother, I want to lead him on the right path."

Olivier placed her elbows on her desk and leaned on them, looking Al right in the eyes. "So, tell me, young Elric, why are you in North City?"

Al faltered a little, not wanting to mention Ed's idiotic reasoning for coming to the North. "Um, I'm not sure. I don't know what I'm doing. I just want to bring brother home."

"And what will you do once you complete that goal? What comes next for you?"

The barrage of questions made Al flustered. People never asked him about his plans or his goals. It was always about Ed. When he left on his pilgrimage to Xing a few months earlier, the only question he'd received from people was "Is your brother coming with you?" There was nothing about his goals, or his dreams. Of course, that was how Al preferred it. He was never one to enjoy the spotlight, and was grateful that his brother seemed naturally inclined to it. However, it was nice to have someone ask him about these things for once.

"Well, seven months ago I left on a journey to travel to the East and explore all of the countries there. Brother left on a similar one to travel west. Before he left, he proposed to Winry and she said yes. He finished his journey two weeks ago and has been in town for the wedding. I haven't finished my traveling, but I left Xing in order to be with them during their wedding. I expected to be back in Xing my now, but look where I am."

Oliver rested her hand upon your chin. "You should leave your brother and return to your travels."

"..what?"

The fierce Amestrian woman slammed her hands onto her desk, causing Al to jump back in his chair. "I said, leave your brother to figure out his own mistakes and go attend to your affairs!" she screamed.

Once Al processed what the General was telling him, his face twisted into one of complete resolve. "I will not leave my brother behind."

At that notion, General Armstrong stood up roughly and thrust her face in front of Alphonse's. The boy felt his cheeks grow warm, but an expression of determination was apparent on his features. "Alphonse Elric, I order you to leave this country!" she snapped, her voice full of authority and intimidation.

Al, however, was not fazed. He looked the fearful woman straight into her cold eyes and said calmly. "I am a civilian, therefore, you cannot order me to do such a thing."

The General licked her lips slowly, accepting the boy's challenge. "Oh yes, I can, if I do it a certain way."

"I won't do it."

"Disobeying a superior's orders? That's land you in jail for a good five years, Elric."

"I don't care."

The General sat back in her chair and sighed. "You are just as much of an idiot as your brother. I guess I have no choice but to send both of you off to Xing, then."

"Hey! You... wait what?" asked Alphonse, processing exactly what the General was telling him.

"I'm sending you both to Xing in a few hours."

Al was dumbfounded. "But… why?"

You are just wasting time with your brother here. You are too stubborn to realize it, so I am taking action. I am sending the both of you off to Xing, unless you'd rather spend 5 years in prison, of course. The trip will last two weeks and will be fully funded by the Amestrian government."

"General... you don't have to do this. I... We.."

"Stop your blubbering and go relay the news your brother," Olivier said coldly.

Alphonse quickly stood up and gave a quick bow to the General. "I am forever in your debt."

The General waved her hand dismissively as the younger Elric left the room. A small smiled played upon her lips as she thought of how happy he left, even considering how cold she was during the second half of the encounter. After a few minutes of blissful silence, the unmistakable thumping of Colonel Armstrong's footsteps made themselves known in the General's office.

"General Armstrong, sir," greeted the Colonel traditionally.

Olivier sighed. "What is it, Alex?" she asked, dropping all formalities.

"Alphonse told me that you are sending him and Edward to Xing."

"That is correct. I want those boys out of this city."

To that statement, Alex shook his head and laughed. "Oh sister, you have the weirdest ways of showing you care."

"That's great," she commented, "but I never said anything about this being a gesture of affection."

"You don't have to," remarked the Colonel as he exited her office. Before he left, he gave a respectful bow to his sister.

"Moron," she whispered, a large and happy smile making a rare appearance on her face.

"Hey, Edward!" Al yelled. The military dorms were just as he expected them to be: dark, dull, and cold. However, he expected the room to be full of people, which it wasn't. It was completely empty, which made the room even duller.

"Yeah?" called his brother from a random bunk in the room. Al followed his voice and found his brother on the bottom of one of the bunks in the back. He was wearing nothing but a pair of long pants, to which the rest of his clothes were strewn about the floor. His arms were crossed over the top of his head. Al sighed.

"We're leaving to go to Xing in a few hours."

Ed flew up instantly, his loose blonde hair flying all around him. "What! Xing? We can't!"

"Yes we can. General Armstrong is funding a two week trip for us to go to Xing."

"But what the hell are we going to do there, Al?"

'Well, I need to see Mei. I was supposed to be back in Xing by now, and she's probably worried. I haven't written or anything." Al's angry and defiant tone made Ed realize why Al was angry with him the past day and a half.

"Oh... I'm sorry Al. I completely forgot... I'm sorry. We can go to Xing and do whatever you need to do."

Al blinked at his brother wondrously. "That was easier than I expected," said Al softly. He took off his brown leather shoes and button up shirt and climbed into the bed next to Ed's. Unlike his brother, Al folded his clothes into a neat pile and placed them next to his bed. "You should get some rest, Brother."

The two brothers laid in silence, trying to fall asleep. However, neither of them could get to sleep because they both had things on their minds. Unusually enough, the brothers were thinking about totally different things. Al was thinking about Mei and Xing, while Ed was thinking about Al.

"Hey, Brother?" asked Ed amidst the silence.

Al groaned sleepily. "Hm?"

"I've been thinking.. and...you know, you can go to Xing without me. I realize that even though you're my little brother, but you're not little anymore. You have your own life, and you need to pursue it. And if I am holding you back.. well, I can't do that to you."

The sincerity of Ed's words temporarily pulled Al from his sleepiness. "Edward... please don't say that! Who cares if I have my own life? We're brothers; I can't just abandon you for my own selfish reasons, no matter how much you ruin your life."

"Thanks Al. Really... thanks. So… does this mean you aren't mad at me anymore?"

"I was never mad at you, Brother, just annoyed with you."

"Whatever. So does this mean we're cool now?"

"Hm... we'll see."

"Hey! What do you mean by that!"

Alphonse laughed and closed his eyes. "Oh, nothing, Brother. Go back to sleep, okay?"

"Fine," said Ed, closing his eyes as well. He didn't say anything, but he felt as if a heavy load was taken off of his chest. Knowing that Al still supported him and wasn't angry with him was the best feeling in the world. No matter how foolish he acted, no matter how many relationships he ruined, Al would always be by his side; Alphonse, his faithful little brother. "Thanks, Brother," Ed whispered to himself.