"The gate..." Edward looked up to the black, iron doors. It was getting to be a familiar place.

He had sacrificed so much the times he had been there, and he didn't have much to offer now. He already had lost what Al and he had worked so hard to restore. An automail arm hung limply at his side. His leg, thankfully, was normal, but it may not be enough to get him back home.

Sighing, the Fullmetal Alchemist placed his hands on the gate. Praying silently, he felt hot tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I have nothing to give that is worth what I want, but the only thing my brother has restored." He closed his eyes tightly as the doors slowly creaked open.

'That is not enough to fulfill the equivalent exchange...' A voice echoed in his ears.

"I have nothing to offer!" Ed screamed. A hand rested on his chest, over his heart.

'It appears you have much you don't want to let go...' Ed tried to pull back, but the hand caught his left arm. Another held his left leg. 'This will be sufficient enough...' A face appeared, meeting Edward's golden eyes. 'Will you give them up?'

The alchemist thought a moment. "I will."

A searing pain ripped through his arm and leg as he felt them being torn off. There was a blinding flash of light and a moment later, Edward Elrich landed if front of Rockbell Automail.

Winry Rockbell was a girl of eighteen, four years older than her cousin, Alphonse. She was a stubborn girl, her temper something not to be messed with. Being an excellent automail mechanic helped out with leveling her anger, as well as getting artificial limbs. You could mention something on automail and she would go on ranting at how she loved it. She was pretty for being a mechanic, her blonde hair falling to her slim waist.

Winry sat at her work table, a new automail arm was in progress upon the desk. The wires were almost in place, when an ear-shattering cry erupted outside.

The girl jolted up and raced down the stairs. Flinging open the front door, she gasped when she saw the sight. A young man, perhaps nineteen or twenty, was lying on the ground in a heap, blood pooling around him. Looking closer, she realized, he was missing his left forearm and the lower half of his left leg.

"Dear God, are you alright?" She hurried to his side, helping him to a sitting position. "Let's get you inside." With what strength she had, she hoisted him up as best she could onto his good leg, and slowly, but surely, they made their way inside the house.

000

"Is he going to be alright?" Alphonse asked as Winry came out of the room they had placed the stranger in.

"He'll be fine, Al. Don't worry." She smiled slightly, trying to cover her look of worry.

"He seems familiar, yet I don't remember him." Al leaned forward on his arms, his elbows resting on his knees. Winry sat next to him.

"I know what you mean." She sighed, resting her head against the wall. "He's going to need automail. It shouldn't be unusual for him, seeing as he already has one automail arm."

"He does?" She nodded. Al had never seen anyone will automail, except for their dog, Den, but he didn't really count. "What's his name?"

"Thomas Henker." The girl stretched, standing back up. "Well, probably should get him ready for the automail. Aunt Pinako will want to get it done as soon as possible."

Al nodded, getting to his feet as well.

000

"AAARRGHH!"

"Stay with us, Thomas!" Winry held the man's shoulder as her aunt inserted the wires and base.

"I'm almost done." Pinako finished twisting the last screw onto the base. "There." She looked to the man's sweat-streaked face. "You alright?"

He let out a heavy breath. "Yeah. It's been awhile since I've gotten automail."

"You should have this replaced." Winry held up the worn automail arm that was already attached. "I can make you a brand new one in two days!"

"How much will this all be?" Thomas shifted his body upright with difficulty. He hissed as a jolt of pain went through his leg. "Including the new arm."

"It won't be cheap." Pinako puffed on her pipe.

"Very well. I'll take it, Miss." He turned back to Winry. She smiled, nodding her head.

000

The next few days passed, and Thomas was fixed up with the new automail. He paid the money and said his 'thank you's'.

"Where are you headed?" Winry asked, watching as the man buttoned his shirt.

"To Central." He pulled on his vest, clasping the buttons. "The Alchemy Exam is starting in three weeks."

"You're going to be a dog of the military?" She helped him with his coat.

"If that's what it means to find what I'm looking for, then yes." He tied his light brown hair back into a ponytail.

"What are you looking for?" He turned to her and grabbed his suitcase from the bed.

"My life."

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Note: Edward lost a bit of his memory when he landed back in Resembool. He can't really remember who he is, that's why he has the name Thomas. He's not trying to hide his identity, because he can't remember it! Also, his hair is a light brown. It just turned that way naturally, he didn't dye it. Okay? That's all.

The more reviews I get, the harder I'll work to update!