New life

By Gozilla

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I don't have anything. So don't sue me!

Please excuse my poor English. -

Reviews are most welcomed!!

Enjoy!!

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A/N: Thank you so much again to all of you who read and reviewed the story!! Here comes the last chapter of the story. Please feel free to review and comment!

Summary: This is an A/U fic. The Elric brothers had finally found the philosopher's stone. In the transmutation to restore Al's body, something went very wrong. Will the Elric brothers live to start their new lives?

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-One year later-

A tall and lean youth walked along the countryside path. His golden hair and golden-brown eyes reflected the bright sunlight. He held a bunch of flower in one hand and a suitcase in the other. A few moments later, he approached a two-storey house on a low hill.

A dog ran towards the youth, barking excitedly. It circled around the youth's leg affectionately.

"Hello, Dean." The youth said, gently stroking the dog's head.

"Al!" came a cheerful female voice.

"Hi Winry!" Al smiled broadly, "How are you? Sorry that I am late. There were a few minor problems that I need to fix before I can come back."

"No worries, Al." Winry stood on the balcony and smiled warmly, "Welcome back."

"Thanks Winry." Al's smile slowly faded from his face and replaced by a look of sadness. "Winry, it has been exactly one year since niisan..."

Sadness appeared on Winry's face. "Yes, it has been a year already..."

Silence.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came.

"Al!!!"

A figure shot through from the main door of the Rockbell's house and started throwing punches and kicks at Al.

"Niisan! Stop it!" Al shouted as he blocked the quick and hard punches and kicks from the opponent. Suddenly, a kick to his leg knocked Al off balance and he trembled. He then felt himself being up-side down and being threw to the ground.

"I win!" Edward stood and raised his auto mail arms to the air in triumphant.

"It's not fair." Al struggled to stand up as he massaged his arms and legs, "Niisan! You have auto mail limbs that won't hurt while I..." Al stopped as he immediately regretted what he was about to say. "I am sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"No worries, Al." Edward said cheerfully. But Al did not miss a shadow of sadness flashed through his brother's eyes.

A punch hit Edward's head.

"What's the meaning of this, Winry?" Edward shouted. "Can't you be more gentle like a real lady?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that you should not make such big movements??!!" Winry yelled angrily.

"I am all right!" Edward smiled broadly, waving his auto mail arms and legs, "Look, I told you I am..." he stopped abruptly and knelt to the ground, with a hand over his mouth.

"Niisan!" Al knelt beside his brother and held him supportively. Winry also knelt beside the brothers, deeply concerned.

Edward painfully threw up a mouthful of blood and panted heavily.

"Niisan!" Al cried in horror, tears threatening to escape from his eyes.

"Don't worry, Al. I am getting used to it now. There is nothing to worry about." Edward said as his breathing became less heavy, with sweat covering his forehead. Despite all these, he smiled broadly, "Welcome back, Al."

"You two take him to his bed and let him rest." Grandma said sighing in defeat, standing at the door. "And welcome back, Al."

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After making sure his brother was clean and asleep, Al retrieved from Edward's room and joined Winry and grandma in the living room.

"How is niisan doing?" Al asked, deeply worried.

"He is making a lot of progress during the half year you are away." Winry replied, "We told him over and over again that there is no rush to install the auto mail limbs and that he should wait until he is fully recovered. But he just did not listen."

"The auto mail operation was a success." Winry sighed, "But the pain and the side-effects of the operation put Ed on a fever for almost three months. He kept calling out your name in his feverish nightmare. I guess the missing organs made things worse for him than the last time he had the operation. But he endured all that without any complaint."

Al sat in silence.

"We have just put on his new auto mail limbs two days ago." Winry continued, "He was in so much pain that he was unable to get off bed for two whole days. What you have just seen was the first time he got out of the bed since the installation."

"Niisan never likes being restrained." Al said, sadness over his face, "I can understand how he felt. He wants to regain his mobility and be freed as soon as possible. He suffers all these because of me."

"Ed has a strong mind of his own." Grandma said, smoking her pipe, "There is nothing you can do about it. So stop burdening yourself with the incidence. It was not your fault. Al, you have to be strong. You are Edward's mental support and motivation to go on. Stop blaming yourself."

Al said nothing but to stare at his feet.

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Edward woke up to find that it was already night time.

I guess I have scared Al again... he thought guiltily.

Edward shifted as he tried to find a more comfortable position when someone called him.

"Niisan?" came Al's timid voice, "Are you awake?"

Edward was taken by surprised. He turned to look at the source of the voice and saw his brother sitting in a corner of the room.

"Al? How long have you been sitting there?" Edward said uncertainly, "I am sorry for scaring you. I was..."

"No need to apologise, niisan." Al said guiltily, "I should be the one apologising. I am the one causing your suffering and I was not there for you when you needed me most. I am sorry."

Silence.

Suddenly, Edward laughed and broke the silence.

Al looked in surprise.

"Al, why are we kept on apologising to each other?" Edward said, putting a hand on Al's head, "We are brothers, remember?"

"But..." Al said, heavy guilt still hanging over his heart, "You suffered all these because of me. And I left you suffer alone when you needed me..."

"It was nothing." Edward cut in, "And you were away only to help the people in greater needs of your alchemist power. You are only fulfilling the duties of an alchemist, something I failed to do over the past years. You are rectifying my sin for being the military dog for so many years."

"Niisan..."

"And don't you dare feeling guilty about my automail limbs." Edward gave Al a cheerful Edward-brand smile, "Now that I have arms and legs stronger than yours, I will beat you in every fight from now on."

Edward held out a fist in the air towards Al, "Al, we have a new life ahead of us. Stop looking back to the past. Let's move on together. Just like we always did."

Al nodded, truly smiling ever since the restoration of his body. He gently hit Edward's outstretching fist with his own, "Yes, niisan, let's move on together."

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End of Chapter 3

That's it for the story! Hope you enjoyed it!

Please feel free to review and comment!