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. Almost there guys!

Updated 1/25 2pm

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+

August, 1917

Dear Brother,

We made it through the mountains. It took us longer than I had hoped but at least we're here now – here being a small town near the border. We've managed to find lodging in an old temple - it's considered holy ground and has been spared destruction, despite being in the middle of one of the most war torn areas of Xing. The monks have been kind to us, although they don't speak at all – they've taken a vow of silence.

The reason it took so long to get here… well it's kind of dumb really. I tripped – broke my ankle. It's probably the most painful thing I've experienced since getting my body back. Now I know how you felt with all of those broken ribs and that time you broke your arm. I don't imagine it's anywhere near as bad as your automail surgery was though. Anyway, even using alkahestry to speed the healing, I had to stay off of it for a while and go slow for some time after that. That was probably our biggest delay.

Not long after that, we all got hit by a nasty sickness – fevers, aches, and… stuff I'd rather not put in a letter. We came down with it one after the other. It only lasted a few days for each of us, again alkahestry was a big help, but it still managed to knock more than a week off of our travel schedule. Then there was the hot spring we decided to stop at, because we all really needed the break and I think it helped May relax some. And we spent a few days helping a small family we came across. They had been struggling to survive on their own and didn't have a lot of food. I showed them how to set traps and taught them some general survival skills. It felt good to help them and they were very grateful.

Anyway… there were other things too but we finally managed to get here. Now we've just got to figure out how to get across the border and into the desert. It won't be easy.

Back when the border was first closed, the old emperor ordered a wall to be built. Whether it was to keep people in or keep people out, I don't know. Tensions with Amestris over the Bradley assassination surely didn't help anything but I think the emperor probably knew that a war like this would begin after his death and he knew that people would try to escape Xing for their own safety. The wall keeps the people from leaving. And the armies, of the stronger clans, are constantly fighting for control of the wall. With all of the fighting going on around it, it'll be dangerous to try and cross over.

We've heard that there are armies on the other side too; there to make sure that no one escapes. Most of the people who have tried were killed. Still, we have heard of a passage which should be able to get us out. It's not the safest and it actually lies through one of thickest areas of fighting. But others have supposedly made it.

We have to try. We can only stay at the temple for so long. The monks take in travelers weary from the road but they are expected to move on quickly and make room for others. But there are only two choices from here – head back into the mountains or brave the wall.

I'm not going back, Brother. I won't stay in Xing any longer. I'm ready to go home and I know we can do this. May and I are young and strong – we know how to fight and we'll do what we must to make it through. Dr. Marcoh is ready as well. We'll help him. I'm sure we can make it if we stick together. We've certainly faced worse odds in the past. Heck, you were swallowed by Gluttony and still made it out alive. If you can do that, I know I can find a way to get us out of here safely. I'll be home soon, Brother.

-Al.