Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Fullmetal alchemist. They belong to their respective owners and not me.
Shadows of the past.
"It's been so long since I've been home, I wonder how everything's going?"
Alphonse wondered aloud as he walked along the pathway with a small frown on his face, his eyes skywards as he thought about multiple things which included alchemy and alkahestry.
He had journeyed through the east of the world whilst his brother took the western route as both Elric brothers travelled through the world to learn all they could, he even decided to take two former military operatives, Zampano and Jerso, with him as they acted as Al's bodyguards. They eventually took off to look for ways to regain their old forms, much like Al himself and Ed had left Resembool all those years ago to regain their own bodies after a terrible mistake they made.
Alphonse had even gained a travelling buddy whilst he stayed in Xing...and much, much more.
"I'm sure that their fine, Alphonse! We'll be there soon!" A certain young lady piped up.
Mei Chang, seventeenth royal princess of Xing, happily skipped alongside the young blonde man whom strolled right beside her as the pair walked in a slight silence that wafted through the air like a heavenly scent that would mix in through the oxygen.
Since the last time Alphonse had seen her, Mei had grown up and was even almost as tall as he was. Her stunted childish figure had even curved out and looked a bit more graceful and flexible as she wore her nice long kimono which had a hem which softly swayed in the breeze.
Alphonse continued to walk and he even spared a second to smile softly at the young lady who he walked with.
He and Mei had been walking for what felt like a century before the young adolescent princess started to wring nervously at her saggy kimono sleeves as she looked down at her feet with her eyes starting to swell somewhat.
Mei stopped dead in her tracks, leaving Alphonse to march forwards a couple of steps before he froze too and turned to look behind him.
The young lady looked distraught all of a sudden, her face lowered to look at the dirt path that rested beneath her feet and her lips pulled into a tight frown as her jaw clenched.
Alphonse looked at Mei for a long time before he started to retrace his steps and go back towards her and see what has gotten the young lady so down all of a sudden. Al knew Mei well enough to know that she was not usually one to just fall under a pile of thoughts and suddenly give into the poisonous thoughts her mind.
Alphonse could tell that something was mentally weighing her down, he could sense it for awhile.
"...Mei? Are you okay...?" Al asked gently, starting back towards the young lady.
Mei was speechless for several seconds as she took her time to carefully select her words to try and tell him in a way that would hopefully convey how she felt.
Al worriedly eased his hand on her shoulder, feeling Mei's shoulder tremble against his palm and he stared sadly at her as she silently trembled out of worry with her face down.
"B-But, Alphonse, what if they..." Mei started to speak softly, only to be cut off by Al softly nuzzling her with the most warmest of smiles possible as he stopped by her side and held her close against him.
Al knew exactly what Mei was talking about. When they had told the now-retired former emperor of Xing (and Mei's father) of the new development, he was less than pleased. In fact he basically forbade the very idea of it and even threatened to sic the royal hounds on Alphonse with so much bile that they would have been torn to shreds if it weren't for their fast feet.
Mei was more than likely worried because of how her father reacted, and it was something Alphonse could understand completely.
Alphonse sighed softly as he softly took Mei's hand in his and allowed his slim fingers to intertwine with hers, both of their hands conjoining and fitting together like two puzzle pieces fitting together in a perfect union.
The younger Elric brother gingerly rubbed his cheek against hers, soaking in the warmth of her body as he closed his eyes in heavy relaxation. The youngest Elric brother had yearned to feel warmth and was very happy to finally bathe in it when he had spent all that time in armour, unable to feel anything or touch anything.
Every time he embraced a loved one or touched anything, he would savour each and every second of it.
He wouldn't give this single moment up for all the sensations in the world, though. Heck, he would even go back to a life in armor if it made the skilled alkahestry-master young lady feel happy. His deepened voice was low and soft as he rubbed his nose against the princess' soft peach cheek.
"Don't worry, Mei, I know that Ed and Winry would be very happy to hear the news..."
Alphonse slowly moved his nose, letting it brush the young lady's cheek gently, and he cooed softly in her ear with his voice smooth and soothing whilst he smoothed her fears, "Trust me, everything will be just fine."
Mei's cheeks turned a shade of red that was akin to a bowl full of ripe cherries and she smiled softly at her lover whilst she let her fingers intertwine with Alphonse's and they both paused to give each other a single passionate kiss before they continued their trek.
"Oh, Alphonse-sama..." She sighed adoringly as she felt a soft brushing sensation as Al moved his lips over to hers and he proceeded to press them against hers. He fought the urge to sigh in contentment whilst he passionately kissed the young lady whom was travelling alongside him.
They were both trapped in this moment of deep bliss...
But both him and Mei were forced to draw apart when a sudden annoyed squeak pierced the air. She and Alphonse both looked down at a cute little Panda who growled in annoyance whilst she folded her tiny paws and tapped her tiny foot against Mei's shoulder, which she had been balancing on the whole entire time. Xiao-Mei was the chubby little bear's name and she was the "practically-life-long-companion" of Mei.
Mei glared somewhat darkly at the micro panda and scolded "Xiao-Mei, you're going to have to get used to this, he isn't going anywhere and neither are you!"
Alphonse chuckled sheepishly whilst he scratched the back of his head as if he were embarrassed to have been halted in his romantic embrace by a cute little panda bear and he even looked somewhat apologetically at a grumpy Xiao-Mei "Nah, it's alright, she's just getting used to the development. I don't mind." As he said this, Al leaned forwards and softly tickled the micro bear under the chin.
Xiao-Mei didn't seem too amused, though.
Mei sighed with a little smile as she watched the scene happily. Alphonse was very tolerant and patient when it came to her companion's somewhat jealous attitude and she could hardly blame Xiao-Mei; the cute panda had been with just Mei since she was a cub a tiny bit bigger than a baby's foot and it must have been tricky getting used to being associated with a big group of people.
She was happy to know Alphonse and she was lucky to even have enough time to take this big step which would define their lives forever, and it was this news that both she and Al were about to tell Edward and Winry. She was anxious about it but she knew that she had to be strong.
So, feeling a certain determination bubble up inside of her, she decided to push things along as she threaded her left arm around Al's right one and started to drag the alchemist behind her.
"Let's go, Alphonse! We're nearly there!" Mei exclaimed happily as she broke into a slight canter with the young man being dragged along.
Al chuckled under his breath at seeing the woman's enthusiasm as he felt his feet pull along the floor weightlessly. There was a mystery of why girls were so much more excitable than boy's and Alphonse couldn't help but ponder on how his sweet little nephew and niece were doing whilst he thought about it; his brother had recently come home, he knew that much all too well, but there was another reason for coming to see Ed and Winry then a simple cordial visit.
He quickly glanced down at his pocket and frowned secretly, mild concern etching on his round face as he tucked the letter deeper into his pocket.
How he had come to acquire the scroll he recalled with precise recollection; Mei and himself had gone to Amestris and were just exploring in a local library and reading some stuff on alchemy when Lieutenant Riza Hawk-eye had approached them both unexpectedly, just as they were about to leave. She had given Al a scroll, telling him to give it to Edward as soon as he was alone with him, and when he had inquired stubbornly of what this was all about, all he received was a glare colder than an arctic wind, it was abundantly clear that she couldn't answer that question.
Alphonse was confused and worried about the secrets the scroll held but didn't question it. He knew that it was important to give it to his big brother the first chance he got, and that was what he was determined to do.
"...Alphonse-sama, are you alright?" Mei's gentle voice broke the silence that lingered between the two of them including the little pet panda who simply whined slightly in worry.
Alphonse blinked, only now coming back to his senses. He hadn't even been aware that he had blanked out for a few long seconds and he quickly shook his head to pull his mind back into the realm of reality.
"Yes, I'm fine..." He replied, looking back into the blue distant horizon that lined each side of the narrow strait of a path the duo walked on.
He had to admit that the view was stunning and beautiful, the fields of grass slowly swayed in the wind and the branches of the trees also made a beautiful cacophonous noise that sounded like wooden wind chimes.
The skies were blue and there was not a single glimpse of white fluffy cloudiness hanging in the skyline.
He succumbed to the need to close his eyes and let out a sigh of contentment as he felt the wind embrace his face in a gentle brush and tousle his bronze/blonde hair. He had not felt more at peace with the world since the day he had had his body back, the very same day their whole adventure had ended. He wanted to just fall back and look up at the sky, he didn't know why.
Even with his eyes closed, he knew where everything was. He knew this path and everything about it by heart, he even subconsciously made a mental map of where it led to and where it took him every time he travelled upon it. Even though it was always towards the same destination.
But, before Al knew it, he was walking again.
Unbeknownst to him, Mei had took his arm and proceeded to once again drag him down the path with a look of bold determination and excitement flashing inside her beautiful eyes. She wore a smile full of glee and Xiao Mei mirrored her owner's expression so well that you could even argue that she had gotten each and every inch of the girl's expression was just like looking into a mirror.
Albeit, the reflected image being that of a tiny panda bear.
The little cottage where Edward and Winry lived soon came into view and, right after seeing it in the brilliant golden splendour of sunlight, Al and Mei and Xiao Mei took off down the path as they broke into a very fast sprint with their legs carrying them as fast as they could without their minds taking control to command them.
Neither Alphonse nor Mei wanted to stop as they huffed and puffed, their lungs burning for oxygen as their legs made the duo take on speeds rivalling that of a speeding train engine.
Both Alphonse and Mei came to an abrupt halt the second they both arrived at the doorstep of the little cottage that was nestled at the top of the hill in Resembol.
They both took notice of a mass of black fur drag itself on all four limbs, one of those said limbs being auto mail, and the black dog with a white muzzle and cute face revealed itself to the two home comers. Its folded ears flicked and its ancient tired eyes lit up like a candlelight being lit by a simple match.
The dog barked with a happy wag in its tail.
"Hey Den, I'm home!" Alphonse knelt down and braced himself for the mutt diving at him and started yipping and bounding on the youngest Elric brother as if the man would vanish into thin air at any second. The three-legged dog pinned the young man down by the shoulders and licked his face enthusiastically.
While Den licked his face repeatedly, the older dog's barking alerting the family of four to the door as the children happily leapt out the door and made their way to Al while Ed and Winry were next to rush over to the trio of man, woman and cute little panda bear.
"Alphonse!" Ed cried out, embracing his brother faster then anything.
After Trisha had vomited on him, Edward managed to get changed out of his pyjama shirt and into something a tad more presentable. He wore some new black trousers and he wore a dark brown jacket which had been dressed under a plain white T-shirt.
"Unca Awphonse!" Edmund chirped joyfully, running up to his uncle and wrapping his little arms around Alphonse's leg in a tight hug.
Winry and Trisha greeted Mei and did so by shaking her hand up and down while the baby giggled happily whilst flopping a chubby arm in the young woman's direction.
A joyful chatter took hold of the big group and they all stood amongst each other happily, catching up on the latest updates with one another. At first it was all about menial details and stuff, such as little snippets of what both Mei and Al had learned during their travels and talking about the sights they saw when they travelled across the Eastern boarder of this world.
They were all quite happy to chat about what had happened during the countless amount of travelling but it didn't take long before the outdoor chills had started to get to them.
Alphonse shuddered a bit, hugging his own arms to try and warm himself up from the sudden cold temperature that encased his pale skin. He ducked his head and wrinkled his nose as he wrenched his jaw to keep his mouth clamped shut and prevent everyone seeing his teeth chattering from the sudden draft that his face caught in.
Winry noticed this and laughed light-heartedly whilst she clapped her hand on Al's back, bouncing baby Trisha in one arm as she did this, and she suggested warmly "Why don't we just go inside and warm up by the fire, we chat more in a minute,"
Everyone conceded with nods, sounds and etcetera before they started to make their way inside the house.
Alphonse picked his young nephew up into his arms and carried him indoors as he turned to face his big brother with a timid smile, sniffling a bit coldly as he started to speak.
"Good idea! We have some big news to tell you guys, too."
Ed smiled happily and helped his brother inside, "Okay, let's get inside an' catch up."
As the Elric family started to go inside the cottage to get some warmth from the blustery day, each of them were blissfully unaware of an upcoming danger which would more than likely change the course of the Elric brother's lives.
It was a danger that would be stronger than anything, stronger and more powerful than any enemy that was ever faced. It would bring about something that would force both Ed and Al to go on a travel which would begin the chronicles of a brand new adventure and it would promise to be an experience that nobody could hope to forget.
It would be this danger, that would change everything.
A/N: That's the end of this chapter, we see that Alphonse and Mei make a return but something is probably going to happen soon...I think the summary is a dead giveaway to what the event is.
What do you think Mei and Al's big surprise is?
What do you all think of this fanfic so far?
Please review.
-Chloemcg