Aerrow was partly awakened by the light. It pierced his closed eyelids and warmed his face to the point where it almost felt as if it was burning.

Then there was the smell. Disinfectant? Why could he smell disinfectant?

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking in the bright light, and when he looked to the side he saw that it was coming from a window next to...

He was in a bed. Why was he in a bed?

And then the final sensation kicked in: pain. Intense, unyielding pain in his left shoulder, as if a knife had been thrust into his body and left there. He clutched at it and hunched over in pain, hissing through his teeth.

Wait.

Something was different.

He looked down.

His automail socket... it was different. The metal looked cleaner, sleeker, newer, and while it was true that it hurt, it didn't seem to be quite as painful as the surgery from a year ago. Even the bandages looked fresher. He was too confused by the sight to care that his arm was gone.

"You can thank Winry for that."

He looked up in alarm and saw Ed lying in a bed next to his, gazing up at the ceiling and resting his head on his hands in an expression of boredom.

"She said the work on your shoulder was, and I quote, adequate but amateurish," he said, "so she re-operated on you while you were out."

Puzzled, Aerrow felt his shoulder again.

"But I thought automail surgery could take up to a week," he pointed out.

Ed looked over at him.

"How long did you think you were out for?" he asked.

It was then that Aerrow realised just how much was different. The air tasted fresher and clearer, nothing like the thickness that had almost choked him when he had first awakened in that alley in Central City. And his body felt considerably lighter as well.

"I'm... back in Atmos?" he realised.

"Yeah, and you've been dead to the world for eight days," Ed told him. "Considering just exactly what you did, I'm surprised you woke up this quickly."

"Why?" asked Aerrow. "What happened?"

Ed sat up and stared at him in shock.

"You mean you don't remember?" he asked.

Aerrow thought back and concentrated.

"Well, uh," he said, "I remember... explosions... firearms going off... almost like something out of one of Finn's favourite movies... and then lots of light... feeling like my head was going to explode..."

His eyes widened in realisation.

"Ed, what the hell did I do?!"

"Well, you know how I said Atmos and Amestris were damaged?" he said. "You and Al went right up to the rift and you sealed them."

"Sealed them? But how am I back home? How are you here?"

Ed smiled.

"You sealed them," he said, "to each other."

Aerrow's jaw almost hit the floor.

"I... huh?!" was all he could manage.

"When I went through the Gate, the entire universe was poured into my head," said Ed. "The same thing would have happened to you, only because our worlds were so much closer at that point, there would probably be more of it. It's a miracle that you escaped with what little sanity you had. All you did was put that knowledge to good use. Good thing it all stopped when it did; you were bleeding out of every hole in your face. I can't imagine what the pressure on your brain must have been. The two of you basically understood, deconstructed and reconstructed two. Entire. Universes."

Rubbing his now rather sore head and trying to comprehend what had just been explained to him, Aerrow fell back onto his pillow.

"Wow," he muttered. "I mean... I-I knew we were powerful but I didn't think... jeez!"

"Yeah," Ed said in agreement. "And quite a lot's been happening while you were out. Everybody in both worlds wants to know what that bright flash of light was that blasted out everywhere and left some people temporarily blinded, people are questioning the implications of there being two universes rather than just one; some religious groups in Amestris are even trying to say this place doesn't exist. A whole bunch of other people who I guess are Sky Knights turned up earlier today and Al's gone to be diplomatic with them. He woke up two days ago. I guess he handled the transmutation better 'coz he's been doing alchemy much longer than you."

Aerrow whistled in amazement at how quickly everything seemed to be moving.

"Wow," he said. "What about you? How come you're here? You seem fine; shouldn't you be with your brother?"

"I would be if I could walk," Ed replied, and he moved his sheets and right leg to reveal his empty socket. "Your world-sealing transmutation caused a shockwave that pretty much annihilated both our prosthetics, so now we're stuck waiting here for replacements."

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door, and Winry entered, carrying a large heavy-looking bag over one shoulder.

"Hey, speak of the devil," said Ed. "Aerrow was just admiring your handiwork."

"Oh really?" asked Winry in a half-sceptical, half-joking tone. "Well, it's good to know my efforts are actually appreciated!"

"Hey, I pay you enough!" Ed objected.

"And you wouldn't need to if you were a little more careful!" Winry pointed out.

"Seriously though," Aerrow interjected before this could go too far. "Thanks, Winry. I owe you one."

The mechanic set the bag down between the two beds with a heavy thump and a small smile.

"You're very welcome," she said as she opened the bag. "If only Ed could be as polite as you."

"I'm sitting right here, you know," Ed said moodily.

Ignoring this latest little snippet of snark, Winry pulled a silvery construction out of her bag.

"I worked on this while you were staying with us," she said proudly. "It's why I was spending so long in my room, and I just finished it off earlier today. You wanna try it out?"

Aerrow looked at it and smiled.

It was an automail arm.

"Are we honestly supposed to unquestioningly believe the words of children?!" demanded Harrier. "Must we really trust these uncultured adolescents with information about a completely different universe?"

"Hey, we may just be kids," Finn said angrily, "but we've saved your ass plenty of times, remember? And we know way more about this than you do!"

"You're not helping!" Piper said as she tried to pull him away.

"Look, I saw it with my own eyes," said Starling. "When the people of Amestris came through, they were more interested in answers than invasion. Several of their own had been injured by forces from our world and they wanted to know why! Does nobody think they deserve to know?"

"I second this notion," said Triton as he raised his hand. "While I admit this is all mighty suspicious, it just doesn't make sense to charge in all-harpoons-firing now, does it? I say we hear these people out!"

"You've got water on the brain!" argued Burner. "These guys have an army that could wipe us all out in half a second! Why are we wasting our time here? Let's just smoke 'em!"

"No, don't!" Piper tried to say, but her words were hidden behind voices of approval.

"Yes."

At the sound of the new, strange voice, everybody in the room fell silent.

"It's true that Amestris is a nation constructed by conquest and invasion," the newcomer said as he stepped into the group, "but those days are over. As a matter of fact, we recently returned one of the nations we annexed to its native people and we're doing our best to restore it to its former glory. We are not interested in warfare."

He had determination glinting in his round golden eyes, and none of the Sky Knights were sure what to make of him considering his otherwise innocent-looking face.

"And who are you to speak on behalf of this other world?" asked Harrier. "You are no older than these children who call themselves the Storm Hawks!"

"I understand that," the boy said calmly, "but the Amestrian government is still in the process of selecting a suitable ambassador, so that's become my temporary position."

He offered a sharp salute.

"I am Alphonse Elric of the Eastern district of Amestris," he declared, and lowered his hand. "My brother is Edward Elric, formerly known as the Fullmetal Alchemist. He served in the military for several years and were he not still recovering from the battle eight days ago, he would be here instead of me. As it is, consider me here on behalf of the nation of Amestris, representing its land, its people and its power."

The Sky Knights were speechless at his unflappable confidence, but Piper was smiling hopefully and Finn was downright gleeful at this turn of events, visibly restraining himself from hopping from foot to foot..

"Very well then," Starling said. "How do we know we can trust you people when you've just admitted that your homeland is built on conquest? And like Burner says, your military is easily more powerful than any one of our squadrons, so how are we supposed to expect you won't try to conquer us too?"

"First off," said the amazingly calm Alphonse, "while it's true that we have technology that even I sometimes find incredible, we don't have airborne capabilities. Even if we did try to invade, without assistance we wouldn't be able to move beyond this single terra."

"You're certainly friendly enough with the Storm Hawks," Harrier pointed out. "How do we know they won't ferry you around the Atmos and allow your armies to pick us all off one by one?"

Alphonse's determined expression didn't change as several of the people in the room voiced agreement.

"We don't have any reason to," he pointed out. "Even if we were to attempt conquest, what benefit would it bring? What does our nation have to gain from your lands? I understand that you possess impressive technology that involves crystals, but in Amestris we rely on steam power and fossil fuels for transport and our weapons and other such equipment are powerful enough to not need your crystals. You don't have any metals or minerals that we need and nobody is interested in picking a fight for no purpose. We don't want to fight you."

"And what about this alchemy stuff, eh?" asked Suzy Lu. "You guys can turn anythin' into anythin', how do we know you hosers ain't gonna try any funny business?"

"Alchemy is regulated by the military," Alphonse explained. "Right now the only alchemists who could get into your world are the State Alchemists, who must obey strict rules laid out by the army. I should know; my brother used to be one. Any rogues just there to cause trouble either lose their positions, go to prison or just don't get enlisted in the first place, and while it's true that this in particular is relatively new," (images of Kimblee and Tucker flashed through his mind and he tried very hard not to show it) "it doesn't change the fact that only certain citizens have access to this place. We'd be sure to stop any rogue alchemists who tried to get through, and make sure they didn't dare try it again."

Much calmer talk settled over the assortment of representatives from different terras.

"It's working!" Finn whispered excitedly to Al. "You're doing great!"

"Ssh," Piper hissed.

"And furthermore," Alphonse continued, "we cannot, as you say, 'turn anything into anything'. The most we can do is alter the physical state of something. You can't turn metal into wood. The most you can do is make it another kind of metal. And you can't transmute organic matter out of air, or out of something non-living; you can't just turn a rock into a flower. You can't make animals either. And you certainly can't create people. You'd need a Philosopher's Stone to do any of this and those are next to impossible to get hold of."

"How do you even know all of this?" asked Harrier. "You're just a boy!"

Still with no change in his expression, Alphonse pressed his hands together as though he was praying, then knelt down and rested them on the stone floor. It crackled for a moment with brilliant blue lightning, and when it faded he straightened up again, leaving a small crater behind and cupping something in his hands. He opened them to show a small stone bird.

"Trust me, sir," he said calmly, "I may still be young, but I know about as much about alchemy as there is to know."

As the people of Atmos watched in amazement, he returned the stone to where it had come from. Once he was done, Starling stepped forward.

"Can you swear to us all," she said, "without any fallacy whatsoever that the intentions of you and your people are purely peaceful? Can you promise us that Amestris bears no ill wishes towards Atmos and that our two worlds will be able to connect and function peacefully with one another?"

Alphonse nodded.

"I promise, ma'am," he said. "No person in Amestris or any other nation has any interest in war with you or yours. If Edward or any other official was here, they would say exactly the same thing."

Starling raised a suspicious eyebrow, likely unimpressed at being addressed as "ma'am" but all the same, she offered a hand to shake.

Alphonse gladly accepted.

"Okay," said Winry, "are you ready?"

Aerrow shrugged as best he could given his current position.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he said.

"Right," Winry said, and she tightened her grip on her wrench. "On three. One... two... three!"

She pulled on her wrench and Aerrow screamed in pain at what felt like a million needles being thrust simultaneously into his body.

"Is it supposed to hurt that much?!" he asked.

"I'm connecting this thing to your nerves and muscles," said Winry as she repositioned her wrench. "Quite frankly, I'd be concerned if it didn't hurt."

She pulled again, and the Sky Knight tried and failed to stifle his groan of agony. Ed, meanwhile, started laughing.

"Good job, Aerrow!" he said happily. "You took that like a champ!"

"I don't know what you're so chipper about, Ed," said Winry. "It's your turn next."

Ed looked down at the bag and gulped.

"Oh yeah," he said. "How could I forget?"

With one final twist and one final yelp of pain, Winry seemed satisfied and removed her wrench from Aerrow's body.

"There, was that really so bad?" she asked. "Go ahead, try it out!"

While she withdrew and reached back into the bag, Aerrow gave his fingers an experimental flex and stared at them in all their shining wonder.

"Wow," he breathed. "It... it's so light!"

"Winry, is that northern style?" asked Ed.

"Oh, you noticed!" Winry said cheerfully while setting up his leg, as Aerrow tested his new arm with a few quick punches. "I figured it would make sense given the difference in gravity and altitude between Atmos and Amestris. The basic structure and framework is the same as your previous model, but it's a lot more heavily reinforced and the materials are stronger while more lightweight. Should make it a bit easier to fight with." To Aerrow she added, "Promise me you won't go blowing it up this time, okay?"

Aerrow paused in rolling his metal shoulder.

"I will make no such promises," he said flatly.

Winry huffed.

"Fine," she said, and yanked on her wrench to connect Ed's leg.

So now it was Ed's turn to howl in pain.

"Come on, Ed!" Aerrow said with a smile. "Take it like a champ!"

"Oh, ha h-ARGH!" Ed's sarcastic laugh was cut off by another scream. "When the nerves are connected, that's always the worst part!"

"Yeah," said Aerrow. "I figured."

With one final wince from her favourite customer, Winry packed away her tools.

"Now this time, PLEASE take care of it," she insisted as Ed tested his prosthetic. "And Aerrow, I'm not gonna charge you for this because I doubt this world's currency is applicable in Amestris."

"I have to give you some kind of payment," Aerrow said as he picked up a thoughtfully provided shirt.

"No, really," said Winry, and she stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. "This one's on me. I think you'll find the whole of Amestris owes you, so just count me into that."

"The whole of Amestris didn't build me a new arm," Aerrow pointed out as he pulled on the shirt. "Or redo the required surgery. I have to give you something."

"Aerrow," said Winry, "I insist."

She turned to leave, and had just gone out the door when the Sky Knight snapped his fingers.

"Wait a minute!" he almost shouted. "I got it!"

He pointed at Ed.

"Edward," he said. "Do you remember the first time I showed you around the Condor?"

Ed's brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"Vaguely," he replied. "What about it?"

"I seem to recall you mentioning a friend who was a mechanic," Aerrow said, making sure he was loud enough for the girl in question to hear. "How she would absolutely adore every single part of it. I believe the term you used was 'she would freak'?"

"Hey, yeah!" Ed quickly caught on. "Now I remember! But the two had never even been in the same world..."

Again, as if it were scripted by some higher power, Winry poked her head around the doorframe.

"...until now, that is," the ex-alchemist finished with a sly smile.

Winry re-entered the room with a small frown.

"I'm listening," she said.

"Dude, that was awesome!" Finn said once he, Piper and Al became the last to emerge from the building. "I didn't even know- dude, are you okay?"

Al fell to his knees with a deep, shuddering sigh and eyes wide with what looked like horror.

"That was… the hardest thing… I've ever had to do… in my entire life!" he wheezed. "I don't even think fighting Kimblee and Pride combined was as difficult as that! Oh my go…"

"Hey, it's okay!" Piper rubbed his back comfortingly as he caught his breath. "You did great, Al! I don't think even I could've won over Harrier, of all people."

"Don't let yourself be deceived," said Harrier, who had overheard. "I am still not convinced about the motivations of this Amestris place."

"He said they weren't looking to fight," Finn said angrily. "Why is that so hard to believe? And I don't know if you noticed but I think Al did a lot better in there than you did, you warmonger!"

"Finn, just leave it!" Piper chastised.

"It's okay," Al said as he stood up. "I don't blame you, Mr…?"

"The name is Harrier," the man said proudly. "Harrier of the Rex Guardians."

"Mr Harrier," said Al. "I don't blame you for still being suspicious. I know I would be if I suddenly found out there was a whole other universe connected to mine that had a really powerful army. In fact, if it was me, I'd probably be scared out of my wits!"

The look on Harrier's face was priceless. He seemed utterly blown away that a boy who had been so intimidating and determined mere minutes ago now acted friendly and kind, especially since he was smiling so sweetly.

"I really hope we can get along," said Al.

After several more seconds of staring, Harrier rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Children…" he muttered.

"That settles it," Finn said, wrapping an arm around Al's shoulders. "You and that Hawkeye lady are my new personal heroes. Anybody who can stand up to the defender of the Land of Slow and Boring like that is definitely awesome in my books!"

"What is your issue with Harrier, anyway?" asked Piper as Al tried to shy away. "Why in Atmosia do you hate him so much?"

"That's for me to know and you to not find out," said Finn.

"Hey! Hey, Stork!"

"Yeah?" said Stork through the intercom. "What is it now?"

"Radarr and I finished getting rid of all the vines!" Junko shouted. "Is there anything else you need us to do?"

"Well, there is a rather disturbing squeaking noise that I've been hearing in the engines," said Stork, "so is there any chance you could check that out? I think maybe the gears need oiling."

"Sure thing!" Junko said cheerfully while Radarr saluted. "We'll get right on it!"

"Hey Junko! Hey Radarr!"

At the sound of the new voice, the two non-humans looked round.

"Hey, Winry!" said Junko. "How's Ed doing?"

"Well, I put his leg on, so he should stop complaining from here-on-out," Winry reported, "and I've got some news that I know is going to make both of you happy."

"Really?" Junko and Radarr put down the hands-full of torn off vines that they had been holding. "What is it?"

Winry's smile grew larger.

"Aerrow's woken up," she told them. "I've given him his new arm and he should be back in action by this afternoon!"

"Are you kidding?" Junko and Radarr lit up like the sun. "That's great!"

Radarr leapt into Winry's arms and hugged her, and Junko swept up both of them in a massive embrace.

"I have no idea what's going on down there," Stork said through the intercom, "but nobody kill anyone!"

"Winry says Aerrow woke up!" Junko shouted.

"You might be able to catch him if you hurry!" Winry said to Radarr, who jumped out of the hug and scampered out of sight.

"So he's woken up, huh?" asked Stork, his voice still echoing out of the intercom as Junko set Winry down again. "Took him long enough. I was beginning to wonder if he'd ever see the light of day again."

"And you made him a whole new arm?" asked Junko.

"Yeah," said Winry, "it was the least I could do. You know, after him and Al saving the universe and all that. But there is one thing he said to me."

"What was it?"

"He said that as payment for his arm, I could have a tour of the Condor."

She looked up expectantly at the carrier, her eyes glittering with excitement at the thought of getting to have a proper look around.

"I dunno," Junko said nervously, and turned to shout into the ship. "What do you think, Stork?"

"Bring her in," said Stork. "Just don't let her anywhere near the turrets!"

"YES!" Winry literally jumped for joy and practically boarded the Condor in a single bound. Junko couldn't help but smile as he followed her in.

"So how're you liking Winry's work?" Ed asked as they stepped outside.

"It's amazing!" Aerrow replied as he flexed his arm. "It feels so much lighter than my previous model!"

"Tell me about it," said Ed. "The weird thing is that I didn't actually start getting taller until I got northern style automail."

"You think what you had before was weighing you down?"

"That's what I kinda figured."

"Or," said another voice from nearby, "he finally started drinking his milk like a good boy. He's always been something of a pipsqueak."

Aerrow looked around in confusion as a vein popped on Ed's temple, and he saw a little old lady (literally, she was about a foot and a half shorter than he was) holding a wrench over one shoulder and smiling with satisfaction at Ed's anger.

"You must be Winry's granny," Aerrow guessed, and offered a hand to shake. "My name's Aerrow, it's great to finally meet you. Your granddaughter is really talented."

"Yes, she certainly is," Granny Rockbell responded as she shook the hand. "It's good to know we'll have some more customers to add to the roster. Our income's dwindled a little since Ed got his real arm back."

Ed remained unimpressed.

"I'm sorry if we made a mess of your house, Mrs Rockbell," Aerrow said sheepishly. "I'm not sure if it was made to house eight people at once."

"Oh, nonsense," Granny Rockbell said dismissively. "That old place gets so empty when it's just the five of us; I'm always happy to receive visitors. And for heaven's sakes, call me Granny. I've never liked people talking to me so formally."

Nearby, Ed rolled his eyes.

"I don't suppose either of you two know where Winry got to?" she asked.

"She went up to the Condor to see if she could get a look around," said Ed in a still-annoyed tone.

"It's that big ship that's up on the hill," Aerrow said, and pointed at the carrier.

"Is it now?" Granny seemed impressed by the sight. "Well, much as I'd like to get a look at the machinery they have in this bizarre place, I should really be getting home. Den can't stay with the Franklins forever."

She turned to Ed with a stern frown.

"You make sure Winry gets home safe and sound, alright?" she said. "And don't you go getting into fights again and messing up all her hard work."

"Yeah, yeah," Ed said grumpily.

Granny rolled her eyes and walked away.

"She seems nice," said Aerrow.

"She always does when she's meeting new people," said Ed. "Behind closed doors, she's a monster."

"Are you just saying that because she called you a pipsqueak?"

"Maybe."

Aerrow would have responded with more snark, but before he could, something basketball-sized, blue and furry hit him in the chest.

"Hey, Radarr!" he said cheerfully. "How've you been?"

Radarr eyed him with a distinct lack of amazement.

"I know, I know," Aerrow said, understanding the reason for it. "First I vanish to another world and then I put myself in a coma. I don't mean to scare you. You know that, right?"

This time it was Radarr who rolled his eyes, and he climbed up and gave Aerrow a hug that the Sky Knight was unable to resist returning.

"Hey, Flyboy," Ed said, "you wanna know something?"

Aerrow looked up at the sound of his old nickname, and he saw that Ed was looking up at the sky.

"I get the feeling," he said, "that life for you, me, everyone we know and everyone we don't know is about to get a whole lot stranger."

Following his gaze, Aerrow looked up at the sky, and at the multiple carriers that were swarming around the terra that displayed emblems from all over Atmos. Pretty much all of the most important figures in the known world were here, and he guessed that over in Amestris, a very similar discussion was going on between their main governing parties.

What would happen if the two were ever to meet?

"I know," he said, watching as one of the immense ships blocked out the sun. "I feel it too."

TO BE CONTINUED