Dear Brother

For twelve years, Alphonse stayed away to give his brother a second chance at the childhood they never had. For twelve years, Aphonse wrote his story, chronicling everything that happened so that someday he could share those moments with his brother once again. These are his letters.

A.N. How long will Al's journey be? Well, twelve years of course. How long will he be in Xing? Remember, Ed was three when Al saw him in Central. So… that long. I know that seems like a lot of letters but he won't be writing one/two letters a month for much longer. As things get busier in Xing, he won't have as much time to write so time will start moving faster soon. I want to get back to ABNE as much as you all do, but I also want to tell Al's story. He's been through a lot.

Anyway, that's two letters today. I love my days off. I may have another one written before I go to bed tonight.

Disclaimer: Ed, Al, and all their friends are the property of Hiromu Arakawa. I do not own them, but am grateful for the opportunity to use them in the unleashing of my own imagination.

Rating: This story is rated K+

June 30, 1915

Dear Brother,

The emperor died last night. It feels like the whole country is holding its breath. One week – for mourning. It's so still, silent, like the calm before the storm. Who knows what will happen next?

I don't really have anything to do in the meantime except to keep practicing my alkahestry. When it comes down to it, the only reason that any of this affects me is because I'm here. Were I still in Amestris, it would just be the latest headline in the newspaper. I probably wouldn't think too much about it just as you probably aren't thinking too much about it right now. You don't know I'm here, so why would you? Yes, it's upsetting to know that a lot of people may die and that the whole country is probably going to fall apart in the coming months – but what could two teenagers in Amestris do about it?

Except that I'm not in Amestris. I'm here. So I can't really be impartial to everything that is going on. Still, I feel like I'm caught in between. I do care about the people here. I want them to be okay and to survive whatever happens next. I'm worried about May and Master Lao and Po and all of the other friends I've made here. But it's not really my place to get upset about it all. This isn't my land – not my country. I feel like a stranger at a funeral. I feel bad but not the way that they do. I can only imagine how it must feel to know your whole livelihood may be destroyed in the months to come.

Dr. Marcoh and I are in the same boat there. We've talked about it. He says that all we can do is try our best to ease the lives of those around us – stay out of the way and help out as much as possible. Little things really, but what else can we do?

I haven't seen May in weeks. She's been in near-constant conferences with her councilors. They haven't come to any sort of decision yet that I know of.

I don't really have any reason to be upset about her absence. I know that she's busy and that she has way too much on her plate right now. But I'll admit that I miss her. She was pretty much a constant in my life during those first months after I got my body back and even after we came to Xing, we spent a lot of time together. We have a lot in common and I enjoy spending time with her. She's my friend. It's weird not to see her at all anymore, almost as weird as it is not having you around – almost but not quite. I don't think I'll ever get used to not being able to talk to you brother.

Master Lao is quiet – well, he's usually quiet but now he's even quieter. My lesson today was subdued. I get the impression that he's distracted by something even though he tries hard not to show it. His focus is elsewhere and I wish he would just tell me what he's thinking.

I don't know what anyone is thinking.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do if there is a war, Brother. Should I fight? Should I help protect the people here? I don't think I'm really strong enough yet to be much good in a real fight. And I haven't learned any of the combat alkahestry May uses. I never intended to learn any of that. I know that at the very least, if the fighting comes here, I'll be able to help those who are injured. I know how to heal minor wounds and do other small things like reduce fevers and draw out infections.

I've actually been helping some of the local doctors already – going about with them for house calls. I can't do a lot but what I can do helps and every bit of practice I get is beneficial to my training. When the fighting starts, and it's pretty much a guarantee at this point, I want to be ready to do my part and help where ever I can.

-Al