*Sorry this took so long for me to write, I had some writers block. But good news though, I have some ideas for the next few chapters so they should be easy to write (And maybe won't take so long?).

Also, if you're a fan of the Witcher Tv series I wrote an AU story with Roy as Geralt, and Hughes as Jaskier. So check it out if you'd like. Plus, check out my 3 part series about Ed and Al's sister!

Enjoy the chapter!*

*No trigger warnings today (surprisingly :p).*

Chapter 14: Somewhat Calm Before The Storm

"So, nobody's questioning the blood?" Hughes asked over the phone. He had just gotten back inside, giving the state alchemists by the lake some alone time. There was no doubt that these last three days had gotten to everyone.

"No. It's really strange though." Armstrong said, speaking in a low voice since he went back to work to try sort out the mess from last night. The fight between Fuery and Hawkeye vs her doppelganger was quite the scare for all of them.

"What's really strange?"

"Nobody's questioning anything. Not even those guards who pulled Lieutenant Hawkeye out of the water. It's really strange, Colonel."

Hughes stroked his chin, thinking. "That really is strange." Why would no one question anything from last night? Like, Why did Hawkeye fall in the water? Or why was their blood in the filing room? How come no one came forward to ask any questions? "Something doesn't seem right."

"I feel the same way. But I'm not sure what to do."

"Well just keep doing what you're doing, Major. I'll try to think of something."

"Will do. However, not to sound rude or anything, but I think we might have to pick up the pace with sending young William home. The longer it takes, the longer those doppelgangers are here. I have a feeling that this is there doing."

Hughes frowns. Could the doppelgangers be in HQ again, and that's why nobody's questioning anything? "William thinks he's figured it out. He's setting up his proposal as we speak."

"Then I won't keep you. Help that kid get home as soon as possible."

"I will." He hangs up the phone and signs, rubbing his temples. He wishes he was home with his wife and was curled up together in their warm bed as he gets the sleep he deserves. But he knew that wasn't going to happen until he got a certain blonde home. Another long sigh came from his chapped lips before he turned on his heels and headed into the room where everyone was.

Everyone had gathered in the room where the injured were, all spread out on chairs and couches. Hawkeye had managed to sit up a bit, making room so that Havoc could sit by her feet. Fuery was finally awake, and although he looked like he was a bit high on the pain medicine, he was still pretty alert on what was going on. On the opposite side of the room, William had transmuted himself a large board which he was currently scribbling on.

Al saw Hughes walk in and asked, "Hey, Mr. Hughes, have you seen Brother and the Colonel around?" A hint of concern in his voice.

Hughes smiled softly, one that he used on Elicia when she was worried. "I saw them together outside. They're… talking and need some space." He replies, truthfully. "We can start without them."

"Good." William said, turning to face them. "Because I think I figured it out."

"You did?" Kain perked up, eyeing the boy with his dilated eyes.

He nods."Yeah." He moved out of the way, showing off his drawing. He had a few alchemy circles in the corner of the board, but what really had everyone's attention was the two giant circles he drew with a bridge between them. He points at them with his marker. "For those who don't know, when I traveled through space I accidentally created a rift which is still open. That rift is the reason our doppelgangers are here, and from my understanding it's still open. Which is good, because it'll be easier for me to get back to my universe."

"So it's like a gateway?" Jean asked, studying the board.

"Correct."

"So if it's obviously open, why didn't you leave already?" Riza asked, hoping she wasn't sounding too rude. Not that she didn't want him to be here, but the kid needed to get home as soon as he could and he seemed like he already knew how. So why hasn't he left yet?

William looks at all of them, twisting the maker in his hand. "Here's where it gets tricky. Due to the soldiers on the other side of the rift, I can't simply travel back home without being killed by one of them; So I have to travel through space and time in one go."

The adults blinked, immediately losing precious brain cells.

"Huh?" Heymans said, raising an eyebrow.

"I know it sounds weird, but it's the only chance I have at not dying." William continues. He draws a line from this world to his. "When I activate the circle, I'll travel back to my world while using a small percentage of the stone so I don't overshot it, and then I would use it's full power to go back five years earlier in order to save Hughes and change the timeline for good."

"Holy shit." Jean said, his blue eyes getting bigger.

"Five years?" Hughes chimed, taking a good look at the doppelganger. "Wait, how old are you?"

"Me? I'm twenty." William replies, a little surprised by his question. He was rewarded by gawking stares and opened jaws.

"So I was right, you are older than Brother." Al said, recalling a conversation that him and Ed had a few nights ago.

"Indeed I am." He gives a sad chuckle while touching his eyepatch. "I was sixteen when everything came crashing down, and I was seventeen when I started searching for a stone to use."

They all frown with eyes full of pity. They hated how small and fragile he sounded when he spoke of his hard times.

"William…" Riza begins with her motherly tone.

"It's fine." He looks back at all of them, looking serious once more. "Anymore questions?"

"I have one." Vato said, raising his hand. "What would happen to our doppelgangers? Would they remain here even after you go through the rift?"

William looked a bit guilty for a moment, shoulders sagging. "Actually…. That's something I wanted to talk to you guys about."

"What is it?" Al said, curiosity spiked in his words.

"Well, when I travel back, I modified the circle so that this world would reset three days earlier."

"Three days ago is when you arrived, right?" Hughes asked, thinking.

William nods. "Yep. By doing this, the doppelgangers would disappear from this world, and these last three days would be like they had never had existed."

"So what's wrong with that? No doppelganger sounds great." Kain chimed in, relief that he'll no longer have a bullet wound in his leg.

The rebel's good eye fell to the floor, frowning. "It would be, but if I reset the timeline here, you guys might not remember what happened, you might wake up with no memories of what happened in these last three days."

Silence fell and everyone looked at each other. William felt bad with the decision he was making, but he knew he had to reset the timeline in both worlds if this was going to work.

"No memories?" Jean said, quietly.

"So we won't remember even meeting you?" Al asks, in disbelief.

"It's a change. Who knows if you will or will not, but I just want to prepare you guys that'll it might happen" William said, truthfully, throwing them back into a pit of silence.

What felt like an internaty, Hughes broke it with an expression and voice of concern.

"What about you? Will you lose your memories?" He asked, shifting his stance uncomfortably.

The blonde shakes his head. "No. Since I'm the one doing all of this, I'm going to remember everything. I'll remember this world, the time/space travel, and the last five years. While my friends back home lose their memories of their terrible past, I will remember mine."

Heymans shot straight up from his chair. "Seriously?! You won't forget anything?" He asked, madly. Not at the boy, but judging by his past, it probably would be torture remembering the horrible timeline.

"Nope. I'll be forced to remember." He sighs. "Is that okay with everyone? Are you guys okay with me doing that at the risk of all you losing your memories?"

Everyone glanced at each other again and wondered… did they want to lose their memories? Sure, the last three days haven't been so great between meeting their insane look alikes, going into hiding, and getting injured. However, the other part of them wanted to remember this. To remember William and what could happen if they let rage defy you, and allow you to recall the demons of your path. Should they even forget this all? They opened their mouths to speak-

"If that's what it takes, then maybe you should."

They faced the doorway which had Roy standing there along with Edward. They couldn't help but notice their puffy eyes and flushed cheeks on their serious faces (now they were wondering what had happened outside with their "talk").

"Roy, Ed. You're back." Hughes said, quickly noticing that they looked a bit tense too.

Both Alchemists ignored the man as they both stared at the rebel leader in the room. "William, we've got something for you. Someone actually." Roy replies, his undertone was stiff and everyone in the room picked up on the way he shifted a bit closer to Edward. Why though?

William looked confused. "Who?"

"Me of course." Kimblee's voice sang, circling around the alchemists to face the people present.

The adults wasted no time to spring to their feet, drawing their guns, and stepping in front of Alphonse and William. Even Riza who was laying on the couch wasted no time to pull out a gun she hid between the couch cushions.

"Whoa! What the fuck!?" Jean yelled, scared and angry.

"Why the fuck is he here?!" Hughes yelled, throwing daggers at the man with his cold green eyes.

"How is he here?!" Riza added, coping the Lieu. Colonel expression.

Kimblee seemed unfazed by the firearms in his face, just smiling like the crazy man he was. William however perked up and brushed past the adults. "Kimblee?" He said, wondering if this was real.

"You know this guy?!" Kain yelled, stunned but never took his eyes off the man in white.

Roy held a hand up, a silent command of telling them to put their guns down. "Relax. This isn't the Kimblee we all know from war, this is actually his doppelganger, and a subordinate to William." He replies, his voice still unnerved.

They looked surprised. "Wait, what?" Heymans stuttered.

"It's true. This is the Kimblee I know." William chimed in, he glanced back at them. "It's okay, you can put your guns down." They didn't exactly put them away, just lowered them slightly as they continued to glare at the man. William wanted to protest, but decided against it seeing how angry they looked. He glanced back at an old friend of his. "Kimblee, what the heck are you doing here?"

"I saw that the transmutation circle was still activated, and I saw that the Fuhrer and his men went through and got a bit worried for you." Kimblee replies, truthfully. "When I saw that it wasn't closing anytime soon, I decided to follow. However I ended up here in this world, and on the other side of Central. I've been trying to find you for the last three days now, it was hard, I'm not going to lie."

"And he ran into me and the Colonel outside, scaring the living daylights out of us." Ed butts in, crossing his arms in an attempt to make him look cooler. But anybody who knew the boy really well didn't miss the way he leaned a bit closer to the flame alchemist.

"I said I was sorry." Kimblee said, happily which earned a groan from the blonde teenager.

Suddenly the house phone started ringing, and Hughes wondered if the Major was calling with an update. He sighs, putting his gun back in his holster. "You guys stay here and sort this out, I'll go answer the phone. It might be Major Armstrong."

He shifted his direction walking around the man who gave him a visible chill up his spine. He brushed past Roy in the doorway who gave a settled glance that told him 'I don't trust this man' or it meant 'I'm a little scared right now'. Either way it was bad news, and he couldn't blame him for either.

He set the old war criminal on the back burner in his mind as he grabbed the phone off the receiver in the hallway. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes speaking."

"They're here." The voice of the muscular alchemist said on the other side.

Hughes froze, pretty sure that he heart just stopped. "What?" No. He couldn't possibly have heard that right, it can't be true.

"They're here. The doppelgangers are here at the Central Commands."

And just like that…

Hughes dropped the phone.

* The final battle against the doppelgangers is finally here, and things are about to heat up. Here some bittersweet news to my readers, there are only just a few chapters left, maybe around five or six or maybe more, I haven't decided just yet. However, there is an epilogue and sequel in works for this story too, which I hope you'll read. Anyway, thank you guys for reading this story! And buckle up, because things are about to get intense. Any guessing on what's about to happen?*