"C'mon, Ed, don't you want to visit Nina and Ruvie and Fahren?"

"Of course I do, Al, but.."

"Come on, you need to take a break from that. You'll find it eventually. You've been searching so hard lately. You're close. Just take a few days."

"Yeah, okay." Ed admits defeat, following Al through Mistwell from the train station. As they travel, he's quiet, mind wandering inward, thoughts lazily bumping around in there.

Close? Not even. He'd shown a cheerful face for Al lately, but if anything, he was even farther away from getting his brother back to normal. He would search and search, but no matter where he may look or what he'd find; it's impossible, life-threatening, a myth, anything but doable. He sighs now as he walks, watching the people around them gawk once again, though just for the sake of looking, for they knew he was no threat. They'd seen him before in their town, he's an all-right guy. Not to mention the Fullmetal Alchemist, who was well-known nowadays for being half-lizard, anyways.

Had it really been that long, though? Ed thinks back. It's been almost two years since they visited Mistwell. They kept meaning to, but every time the idea came up, Ed either had a Really Good Lead or they were being sent out on another assignment, another mission that, no matter how hard Mustang tried, got them no closer to restoring Al and himself. So far, Mustang's just shoved the two into complicated situations, honestly with the best of intentions, but each time, the two faced more danger than they were comfortable with, and the last time nearly ended up with the two dead. And so they figure they'd better take a short break to visit friends everywhere, just in case the next mission finds them not so lucky.

"Here we are, Brother," Al announces; it's the house with the long pathway off the road, near to the forest. This location was chosen so there would be few prying eyes, as well as the safety of the forest, should trouble ever approach them.

"Hm? Oh." Ed looks at the house; he spots an impressive garden near to it, as well as several chickens running around. He smiles at this; Amelia must have been working round-the-clock to keep them all cared for. He has just a moment to wonder what Rowan does for the household, in his chimeric form, before a shadow skims overhead. Looking up as he shields his eyes from the sun, he watches a white-and-tan mix of fur and feathers land gracefully in front of them, confused as to what-or who-this is.

Amelia stands on her hind legs and bows slightly to the two. "Edward, Alphonse, it's good to see you again!"

Ed and Al both jump back in surprise, eyes wide. Al is the first to speak.

"Who-?"

"Amelia." She smiles as the look of fright on Ed's face is replaced by curiosity. "I love Rowan. It's difficult to be with someone physically when they're so different from you, though."

In understanding, both brothers nod, and Amelia jumps.

"Oh! You must come in and say hello!"

"Ruvie's home?" Al says hopefully.

"At the moment, he's at Fahren's, helping with research."

"He helps with research now?" Ed asks, curious.

"He's actually learning alchemy from Fahren. He's complained about not being big enough a help around the house." She opens the door, leading them inside. "Before he joined the military, he had trouble finding a job. It wasn't through any fault of his own, he just didn't have a wide range of skills or experience. And now, with a body so different from what he'd been born with, he wants to try bending the world to his preference. At least, that's how he said it," she says with a chuckle.

"It's an interesting way of putting it," Ed muses, rolling it over in his mind. The family had changed since they'd been gone. He wondered, at least, how much Nina had grown in two years-and what her thoughts of her chimera parents were.

"Nina!" Amelia calls, seemingly reading Ed's mind.

Ed and A both turn their attention to the hallway, where they see movement. However, they don't expect what comes walking toward them.

"..Nina? Is that you?" Al asks shakily.

Nina walks toward them, standing slightly taller than she had those two years ago. Her body was nearly human, save for the soft blanket of white fur glimmering in the sunlight. A fluffy tail danced curiously behind her, and her feet were large, strong paws, white claws extending slightly with each step. Surprisingly, her hands were mostly human; she had four flexible fingers and a working opposable thumb, though the inside of each hand was a soft, suede-like paw pad and the tips of her fingers hid retractable claws. Her face was entirely human, marred only by short white velvety fur gracing the skin. The feline ears are obvious, sticking out from under her hair, the most notable feature on her new form. They twitch now as Nina spots the two boys. "Ed! Al!" She runs over to them, swift on her feet, and leaps up to tackle Ed in a hug. Comically, Ed loses balance, the two of them tumbling backwards onto the cushioned floor.

Al laughs as Nina helps Ed up. "C'mon Brother, I thought your balance had gotten better!"

"I had my guard down! I didn't think I'd get attacked here." Though clearly miffed, Al and Nina both laugh at Ed's frustration, and all head for the kitchen for tea. However, as Amelia is pouring tea for them, she looks up at Al.

"Alphonse! I nearly forgot. Fahren would like to see you at his residence."

Al looks at Ed, who looks right back at him. He then looks at Amelia and points to himself. "..Me?"

"Yes. I'm not sure why, he didn't tell me."

"Oh.. well, all right." {Not like I can have the tea anyway.} "I'll be back later, okay Brother?"

Ed smiles and waves Al off. "I'll be over later."


"What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Al had followed Rowan through the house and is now in the room with the chimeras, Fahren walking toward a cage with a cover over it.

"I have a gift for you. If you'll choose to accept it." He pauses at the cage, turning back to Al. "I wasn't sure what you would prefer, but I did do research with my brother, and.." Fahren looks at the cage, then at Al again. "This is for you." He pulls the cover from the cage, and Al gasps in shock as he sees what's inside.

The human form is slightly taller than human Ed, with accurately-colored hair, slightly long, the golden brown cascading over the cream-colored skin. Brown striping, quite lighter in color but nearly identical in patterning to Ed, adorns the sitting, motionless body, across the long, reptilian tail, on both arms ending in sharp-nailed hands; and down his legs, which end in digitigrade, two-clawed feet with a third, sickle-shaped claw; all matching Ed in its entirety. The only thing missing is the brown stripe on the face, part of Fahren's artistic license. Alphonse faintly notices that the body, though seeming soulless and empty, is breathing and alive.

As Al stares, Fahren speaks. "I wasn't sure how you would like to be.. more human or like your brother. But the more I spoke with Roy, the more I knew the answer. You two are the closest of brothers. You do everything together. To make you any different from him would be an insult." Fahren smiles, looking at Al, who is moving closer to the cage.

"..How were you able to make this?" Al opens the cage door, getting a better view of the flesh raptor-Al, matching Ed better than he'd thought, right down to the strange ears.

"I'll not lie to you.. it took me quite some time to modify the body to be as close as possible to a human. Especially when combining reptilian and mammalian genes." Fahren looks at the body. "It is my greatest work, and I hope you.. I thought you might like it."

Al reaches in and lifts up the body, holding it in his arms. The head lolls slightly, the body mostly limp except for reflexes keeping it in an aware appearance. "You made this.. for me? To use?" Al asks quietly.

"As a new body. I hope you aren't offended.."

"I don't think that's possible." Al looks down at Fahren. "I don't know if there's a way to transfer my soul int-"

"I know exactly how it works," Fahren answers, startling Al. "My brother and I have both researched it, as well as consulting your.. your teacher. She was less than pleased at the application, but I think she really does condone this."

Al steps forward, voice hopeful. "Can-can we do it now?"

Fahren smiles and calls Rowan over. "Of course. Rowan, lead the way?"

Rowan nods and trots ahead of them, Fahren following with Al bringing up the rear. They're led to a room that Al hadn't seen before, with a circle on the floor that Al couldn't quite identify. All the while, though, Al is staring down at his new body with wonder. He can't believe that he may be in it again soon. It's a funny feeling, really, to be holding yourself in your own arms to the place where you'll trade bodies with soul alchemy. If he had never become an alchemist, Al would call this whole thing absolutely ludicrous.

"In the center." Fahren follows Al into the center, motioning for Al to sit in the center, Al's new body seated as well, the two back-to-back. Fahren then removes Al's helmet, shocking Al a bit, before setting it to the side. Fahren then uses a marker to draw Al's blood seal on the back of Al's flesh neck, finally gently touching both as he concentrates.

A gasp can be heard from the armor, followed by a whimper; Al finds himself now terrified, but dares not twitch for fear of Fahren accidentally rubbing away Al's seal from the armor. He remains still, but soon feels.. lightheaded and detached. How he feels lightheaded without a body is a mystery to him, but the thoughts even seem like they're coming from outside his mind. He tries to speak, but he just hears his own thoughts. None if it is making any sense..


Ed walks toward Fahren's place, finding it unchanged from the outside. As he looks at it now, he finds it amusing. For how large the interior of the house is, the outside of it is quite small. He pushes this from his mind as he knocks on the door, surprised when Rowan answers and beckons Ed in excitedly with his already-large eyes practically bugging. Ed blinks curiously and follows Rowan as he races through the house and down the stairs.

"Rowan, what-?" Ed continues the chase, catching up when Rowan stops outside the door of that room. From inside, Ed can hear a sudden WHAM and yelp from Al. Eyes widening in concern for his brother, he shoves open the door and leaps in, looking around. He immediately spots the heap of armor lying lifelessly in the middle of a circle, the sight enough to knock the air out of him. "..Al," he squeaks out, hesitating from pure shock before running to the pile of armor. He check's Al's seal, finds it intact, and grabs the helmet and Al's middle. "Al..? Al talk to me!" Borderline panic causes him to miss the two figures behind him, moving closer.

"Ed, I'm okay," Al says, and restrains a laugh when Ed holds up the armor head with relief. "Not there, brother. Turn around."

Ed looks at the helmet with confusion, shifting his weight to turn around-and in reflex, leaps to his feet and stumbles back, falling on his ass in his mad scramble. "What-what the hell?"

Al laughs, putting his hands to his hips. "Brother, Fahren fixed me!" Al is now in his reptilian body, fully clothed in black shorts and a white t-shirt, courtesy of Fahren. His hair is tied back into a loose ponytail, and he wears a big smile on his face, his grey eyes sparkling with happiness.

Ed stares up at his brother, in complete disbelief. He climbs shakily to his feet, walking over to Al, taking in his brother's full form as he nears. "Al..? Al is that really you?"

"It's me, Ed. Fahren, he.. he worked really hard and he made this body.. as a gift. Ed, can you believe it? I'm fixed!"

"Al," Ed whispers softly, reaching Al, pulling him into a hug. "Al, you.." He squeezes Al, tears quickly forming and overflowing. "I haven't hugged you since we were kids," he says, his voice loaded with emotion.

Al returns the hug, glad to be able to feel his brother again, finally. "I'm so glad to have a real body again. I had forgotten how you felt, how you smelled.. I remember it all now. I missed this."

"I missed it too, Al. I'll never lose you again, I promise," Ed chokes out through tears, pulling back finally so Al can get some air and he can try to clear his head. He's so unbelievably happy that this is happening that he can't contain himself, and starts laughing, finally feeling relief after years of stress and worry about fixing his brother.

Al smiles as Ed lets loose, his tail waving lazily behind him. He focuses on his balance, realizing that Ed's adjusted fairly well to his body; these 'feet' are quite tricky to balance on. Nonetheless, he kneels down by Ed, who has plopped down onto his rear, clearly reeling in a happiness that he'd kept hidden deep down for a long, long time.


In case you're wondering, yes, it was intentional to make Al taller than Ed. Even though he's the younger brother, Fahren was told that Al was taller than Ed. By who? You'll see.