'Looking back on our mistakes is difficult. Knowing what we did will haunt for the rest of our lives no matter how hard we try to forget. It was all for her, our Mother. Her soft smile, her warmth were what we missed and needed. We thought couldn't live without her so we tried the worst thing of all. Human transmutation is a taboo and breaking it is the greatest sin of all, you're severely punished for it. My brother and I learned that the hard way.'
"Hey Al? You okay?" Al turned to him, his brother whose concerned face is always there. Al nodded as he continued to stare out the window of the speeding train. Ed looked back to himself. "Listen Al, I did this so we could get away and think about our consequences and problems. Al, I did this to talk and you have barely said a word since we've left."
"Sorry Brother, I…I've just been thinking to myself." Al spoke softly. Ed looked back to himself again.
"We're going home, Al." Ed made a small smile. "Okay?"
Al looked up, his wondering eyes making it over to Ed with a nod meaning he understood. 'Brother, our whole life has been rough and confusing and yet I am blessed. I'm so thankful that you're alive and well. I know what we did was wrong and we were punished, but if we didn't make mistakes, we'd never learn.'
The train ride seemed to take forever. All they saw were meadows and farm animals grazing. Ed never looked back from the window after our little conversation. Al kept his eyes at the window as well.
'Al, what can I do? What can I do to show how sorry I am for that terrible night? The only thing I can do is promise that I'll get your body back. I wish I could say all that I was saying right now to you, but I'm scared. I'm too scared of how you might react. I just don't want you, my own brother to hate me. It was practically me who took your body away.'
Ed and Al's goal is simply to make what's right again. They wanted their mother back and they got what they wanted. Though, it wasn't human. There sacrifice and punishment was the loss of a body, an arm, and a leg. Now after many years, they've gotten close and far away from the one thing that can make things normal again. The Philosopher's Stone.
The train stopped. The screeching of the brakes made the boys feel welcome to their old childhood home. The boys got off. Ed began to stretch. "Damn cushiness seats! Oh well, you ready to go see Winry and Pinako?"
Al nodded quietly as they head for the horizon. As they walked, Al thought to himself. 'Does brother know the date? Does he know it's October 3rd? Every year, I feel so sad on this date. It's the same day when we burnt down our house and left. It makes me realize how much I miss Mom and how sorry I am for what brother and I did.'
After a mile walk, Ed and Al finally made it to the Rockbell home. The door of there house flew open and a long, blonde haired girl raced towards them. Ed was captured in an embrace before he can even look up, but he knew very well that it was Winry. Winry turned to Al and hugged the armor as well.
"I've missed you two so much! I though I was never going to see you again," Winry pulled away and smiled at the brothers. Ed and Al smiled.
"So, where's Pinako?" Ed asked with a smile.
"She's out of town trying to sell some of the automail we've made," Winry sighed. "We're kind of running out of money,"
Ed reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Why didn't you tell us that? We have plenty of money for you," Ed pulled out bills and tired giving them to Winry.
"No thank you, Ed. Grandma and I can do it on our own, but thank you," Winry smiled shyly.
Ed blushed. "Are you sure?" Winry nodded and Ed put the money back in his wallet.
"I bet you're hungry, Ed," Winry smiled. Ed nodded fiercely.
"You know me all too well," Ed rushed into the house as Winry followed behind. She turned around noticing that she couldn't hear heavy footsteps. Al was staring off into the direction of thief old house.
"Al?" Al turned quickly. "You coming?" Winry asked softly. Al nodded and walked forward.
"Yeah, sorry, let's go," The two of them walked into the house.