This story was inspired by Hangebokhan's illustrations for the FMA Fandom Challenge 2016. Hangebokhan's artwork can be found in DeviantArt. You can also see the illustrations in the FMA Fandom Challenge Tumblr blog. Hangebokhan's is Set 1.

TRIGGER WARNING: Implied abuse of a minor.

The vignettes are only related chronologically. Enjoy!

A wide smile spread across Alphonse's face making his bony cheekbones protrude. He was sure that if he could look himself in a mirror a cheerful skull would be staring back at him.

Death was calling him, he could feel it in every inch of his wilting body. But he wasn't worried about this like he was before. Everything changed the moment he'd come into contact with the steel armor that housed his soul.

"Haven't you learn anything yet?" Truth chimed in.

Even though the deity's words were coated with mockery, Alphonse held on to his smile. "Once we are one, I will get out of this place." He said just as his golden eyes turned away from the ethereal being now standing next to him and settled them on the chained sigil floating high above.

Truth scoffed. "Is that so?" He crouched in front of the teen. "Look at yourself! You're all bones!" Grinning, he points with his thumb at the gigantic gate standing tall behind him. "You can't even hold your body up for more than two minutes. How will you open that?"

By now, Alphonse was more than accustomed to Truth's taunting. He mirrored the bring's toothy grin, even if it meant his cracked lips would bleed after. "With alchemy." He simply answered.

Truth remained silent for a brief moment, then a cackle reverberated throughout the white space. "You and your brother," he spurted between laughs, "are truly amazing."

Alphonse knew that if Truth had a human form, he would be wiping tears from his eyes.

The deity stood up and looked up. "Better act quick," he added while keeping his gaze fixed upon the chained flamel. "You don't have much time left."

Truth vanished before Alphonse had a chance to come up with a comeback. He sighed; the being was right.

Alphonse turned around and stared at his gate. A spark of determination flashed across his eyes. He got to his knees then used some of the energy he still had left to stand up. It took all of his willpower not to trip over as he walked the ten steps needed to reach the stone door.

Coming into contact with his soul, even for mere seconds, provided him a powerful advantage. Some of his soul's energy still lingered through his body. The steel armor not only transferred some energy but also provided much-needed insight. The link between his body and consciousness was partly restored. He could close his eyes and access memories stored within the seal of the armor. Those memories were more like fragments than actual memories, but he was grateful for the experience. Vignettes of his life in the armor became his favorite pastime in the white void. He saw himself working with his brother, laughing with his brother, and as strange as it sounded—crying with his brother. The armor counterpart helped others too. But the most important piece of information he inherited from his soul was the ability to perform alchemy without the use of a circle.

Alphonse ran a hand across the grooves carved in the rough stone, then said, "if he can do it, so can I."

Holding his hands in the air, Alphonse brought them together in a weak clap. "Please…" he whispered as he placed the hands flat on the gate.

Nothing happened.

Alphonse crumpled to the ground, his rickety knees cried out in pain when they came in contact with the ground. Olive eyes stared vacantly at the gray slabs towering before him.

What happened?

"What are you willing to sacrifice for freedom, Alphonse Elric?"

The chains encircling the flamel descended upon him and wrapped around his body like snakes. Alphonse stifled the frustrated cry that was trying to claw its way up his throat.

The chains tightened around his neck, wrists, and waist; he felt a strong tug. In no time, he was standing—shaking against his constraints.

Truth materialized in front of Alphonse. "So what it'll be?"

"Go to hell!" Alphonse roared, but his cry only encouraged the being to become crueler.

"I'll tell you a little secret," Truth said as he pulled on the chain wrapped around Alphonse's neck. "You need your soul in order to perform alchemy." He pulled the chain tighter and smiled when he saw tears prickling from the teen's eyes. A toothy grin slipped across its etheric space.

"Let's make a wager. Once your soul returns to your body, I'll let you transmute your gate. If you can do it, I'll let you go and nothing will be taken from you." His grin turned wicked as he added," But if you fail, I will personally show you the true meaning of hell. And believe me, it's much worse than this."

We'll see about that! Alphonse wanted to say but the chain squeezing his neck was crushing his windpipe.

I will be free, he said over and over again until he slipped into unconsciousness.