Chapter three! Highly spoilerfied. Pleeeeease don't read if you don't want to ruin the series! If you are interested, I have a spoiler-free version. Just e-mail me if you want it.
"And the dog had automail too?" I asked, eating a slice of pizza. I had been going to Winry's house every day after work.
She nodded. "Sure did! I loved automail. I put the most work into yours, though. All the repairs you needed cost a fortune!" She laughed, handing me a coke.
"Why did I have automail?" I asked, taking the drink.
She sat down across from me at the small table. "When you and Al were younger, you attempted to resurrect your mother. The failed transmutation claimed your left leg and Al's body. To save him, you gave up your arm to attach Al's soul to a suit of armor. He was the one that finally gave you your arm and leg back, but at the cost of his life. You sacrificed everything to bring him back, and he spent the rest of that lifetime searching for you. Now, in another life, we've found you. He's waiting." She watched my tears drip onto the table.
"How could I have forgotten that?" I whispered. I looked at my right hand in awe. Al's sacrifice had been the spark I needed to jumpstart my memory. "I remember. I… I remember everything." I glanced at the pendant around my neck. "Shit… The Philosophers' Stone? But how? It disappeared when…"
Winry shook her head. "When you restored Al, he had that pendant. It was clutched in his hand when they found him. It was lost after he died, and he's spent many years of this lifetime searching for it. He would have spent this entire life, and all of the next ones, finding a way to bring you back."
"How did you get here?" I asked, taking off the necklace so that I could study the metal transmutation circle.
She took a drink of her soda. "Al sent me through with the necklace. He's really becoming an extraordinary alchemist. I promised him I wouldn't come back without you. What do you say?" she asked, tenderly touching my hand.
I grinned, holding the pendant tightly in one clenched fist. "Let's give it a shot. Al and I have a lot to catch up on."
She smiled warmly. "Wait 'til you see him, Ed. He's grown up so much, he's so handsome." She looked me over. "Then again, you've grown up a lot yourself."
I laughed, a faint blush tingeing my cheeks. "Pick a time, Winry, and we'll do this. I just… I have to tell my mom that I love her." My sorrowful gaze fell to the ground. "I'll miss her like crazy, but I have to be with Al."
I went home and immediately found my mother. Wrapping my arms around her, I kissed her cheek and buried my face in her shoulder. "I love you, mom," I whispered.
She smiled. "This is a nice surprise. I love you too, Edward. What are you up to?" she asked, pushing my bangs away from my eyes and tsking at the thick braid hanging down my back. I smiled at the motherly way she examined me, and I felt my eyes well up when she kissed my forehead.
"I just wanted to spend a little time with you." I embraced her once more.
After a night of watching movies and playing Yahtzee, mom was fast asleep on the couch. I turned off the tv and gently covered her with a quilt. I kissed her head gently, and whispered, "Goodbye, mom." I grabbed my keys, flipped off the lights, and left.
I pulled into Winry's driveway about half an hour later. She was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for me. I turned off the car and started to put my keys in my pocket, but threw them into the passenger seat instead. I got out of my seat and slammed the door for what I hoped was the last time. Winry held her hand out to me, and I took it.
She led me into her garage and handed me a piece of chalk. "It's been a while. Can you still draw a transmutation circle?"
I grinned. "With my eyes closed and one arm missing." I knelt down and started drawing. When I was finished, the circle completely covered the floor of the garage. I placed the necklace on one of the points. I surveyed my work, satisfied and hopeful. "Winry, come stand beside me." We stood together in the circle, nervous as hell.
Winry squeezed my trembling hand. "Ed, if this doesn't work, we'll keep trying. I promised Al I'd bring you home."
I nodded and got down on my knees. Eyes fixed on my hands, I clapped and pressed my palms to the floor on either side of the Stone.
Instantly, the room was filled with blue light. "Edward, what's happening?" I heard Winry scream. I gritted my teeth and kept my palms flush against the pavement. I watched as the light enveloped my hands and forearms, swallowing my body in a blinding flash. I braced myself as the light overtook my body, and cried out desperately.
"AL! I'M COMING!"
One more to go! Please review.