Chapter 2: Alchemy Battle/ A Lost Boy.

It was a beautiful day, one week after we rediscovered alchemy in this world if I remember; I was as always practicing a little of alchemist (when I realized that anybody was seeing) when my brother entered our room, I was making a small wood horse.

- You have progressed a lot since the last time I saw you doing that, Al – he said; he was mischievously smiling, as he was planning something.

- Training with Sensei had it's fruits – I answered – She said because of our rush in returning to Rizenbul, we weren't able to be taught everything she knows.

- Well, it wasn't necessary, since we see "that", we are able to clap

- You mean, you are able to clap, since I lost my memory when I returned to my body, I haven't been able to do that again.

After thinking for a moment he said – you haven't recovered all your memories, have you?

- No… not really, I just have some flashbacks of those years, but nothing more.

I was worried that maybe that confession would disappoint my brother (cuz I thought that day when we met here, I had made me understood like I've recovered all my memory) but I don't know why but my brother made something like a smile of relief. Anyway I changed the topic quickly.

- whatever, I was able to do that advanced alchemy that help us to meet again thanks to the other 10 months I spent with master

- It must have been like hell

- hmm, not really, I think she treated us like that most of the time because of your fault "niisan"- I said with my evil face.

- ho ho , how funny! – replied him, somewhat upset.

- Anyway, I made with her help this two multipurpose Arrays (the ones in my gloves) so I could do alchemy just as clapping as you do. These were techniques that they suggested me to try to remember you.

- Oh, well … Let me see them

I gave him my gloves. As ridiculous as it sounds, It was the first time I let "nii-san" to study my gloves thoroughly, just because it was the first time he asked me for that

- Surely they are interesting – he said after a while – but do you think you can defeat me using them? – He asked mischievously – Remember that I'm a clapper.

-"Ah, so that is what he was planning"- I thought, and then just for making him get angry for fun, I answered – Bah! c'mon "nii-san", you are too rusty. It's been more than two years, excepting your little and weak usage 4 months before, since the last time you really made a good transmutation, so I don't think you have an opportunity to beat me on a battle.

- OOOOOOHH! SO YOU THINK THAT WAY – he grunted with his face all covered with angry marks (I've always liked to see him like that; the only problem is most of the time he was in that state, I had to stop him before he killed the ones that had called him a shrimp) – then let's have an alchemy battle now, to see who really is the one who is rusty, OK!

- Fine with me

- Then let's go to the forest next to this city, I'll search for my coat – he said, then he left the room and loudly closed the door

"As hot-blooded as always", I thought amused; "I really live for this moments". Then I hurry to catch him up.

There was a big and beautiful forest near Munich. We usually went there when we got tired of that dirty city. Politic unrest was so irritating and so common that it was really rare a day without some riot or a police intervention; consequences of the last war and the upcoming one. We used to go there to take a walk, and to remember good and bad things, somewhat happy, somewhat sad. But it was the first time we would do such a loudly and "inexplicable" act. So that time we went deeper in the forest than we normally did, searching for a good sport for an alchemy battle. In fact, a forest is a good place for doing alchemy, with a lot of materials for transmutes; is like a paradise for a fighting alchemist, like my brother.

When we finally arrived to a forest clear, we made some stretching exercises. Although we've done some sparring everyday even when I was in that suit of armour (he couldn't beat me even once and nowadays he rarely accomplished that)

Al: So shameful you can't defeat your little brother, "niisan" (Al's face shined mischievously)

Ed: Humph…

We have had only few alchemy battles between us; merely because he was completely superior in that and he'd surely win, but that was going to change.

First he transmuted some clothes for the battle, thus it wouldn't feel comfortable fighting with formal clothes. He transmuted something like the clothes he used to wear when he travelled with me four years ago, only with some little changes and bigger than the others, because, even if you don't believe it, my brother had grown somewhat since the last time I saw him Al: Ouch! (Ed was rising his closed fist) you as sensitive as always, and he also transmuted a new jacket, but it was dark red, in difference between the bloody red he used to wear.

- You are gaining a good sense of fashion "niisan" – I said – that really fits you better than the old one

- But we are not here to talk about of fashion, are we? – He replied, with his usually exaggerated smile of excitement – Anything you want to say before we begin this

- Yes, just three things. First, I hope you don't go easy on me because I'm not going to go easy on you, remember that I'm not the same kid you used to know 2 years ago

- Yes, you look younger.

- Don't interrupt me. Second, this battle will go on until one of us surrender; there won't be mercy until then.

- But…

- Wait, this only means that neither of us would use the opponents love to him for his advantage.

- Ok, ok I will … try not to feel mercy of you.

- remember that you are the one who wanted this. And finally, I wish your pride as the elder won't banish after I crush you

- He, he… we will see that

After putting on my gloves I said – Shall we start?

- start on 5

- 4

- 3

- 2

- 1

- GO!

And then we started. First I alchemized the air around me, concentrating it in air capsule and I started attacking him with it.

- Well, you weren't as rusty as I thought "nii-san". Not even one of my attacks had hit you.

- You haven't seen anything yet, Al.

Next he clapped and transmuted a wall to be protected from my attacks, and then he started to do something I couldn't see.

"What is he trying to do, he's dangerous when you didn't know what is crossing on his mind" I thought

- You really think that thin wall will stop my attacks – I shouted – You'll soon realize that you are cornered

There was when I decided to show my second card; the same capsules but guided ones.

That was one of the most useful things sensei Izumi taught me. By transmuting a middle-sized air capsule, and changing the density of the air surrounding it, I'm able to control at will the course of my missile. This technique saves a lot of time (which was what I wanted) but at cost of considerable amount of energy. Whatever I couldn't let him to make a plan.

- Here it comes, just try to dodge it

The force of the launching almost made me falling down. When I recovered balance, I made the capsule destroy the wall and then go for Ed; when he tried to dodge it, I change the direction and made it chase him.

- Argh! A guided air capsule – he grunted, while bouncing on a shortly after fallen tree who taught you that? –

- Sensei – I answered

- So, you must also know its weakness too

The next thing he did was to start bouncing around. Without concerning if he was losing energy. In fact he only was trying making me to lose my own energy, so I stopped the attack

- What's up; already tired brother? – He said with a victorious smile.

- This has just started – I replied.

Ed decided then to begin his assault. He started transmuting spiked walls around me, just for stop my movement; so I have to made some strong whirlwinds to destroy them. Then he alchemized some moving statues that started to attack me

"Not wanting a melee battle I guess" I thought somewhat irritated, "let's complicate his steps".

So I crashed my fist on the floor, spiking everything around myself so anyone could stay peacefully on them.

My brother stood off the spiked circle – surely an incredible performance, Al. you'll win a bunch of money if you work in a circus.

- Oh, shaddup, those techniques don't work on me. And my attacks didn't work because is too difficult to hit such a small target

- WHAT DO YOU HAVE SAID! Ahhh… calm down, calm down … he's your brother…. Anyway, you've used a lot of energy in your last defences; this would not last long.

- HA! Do I really seem tired? – I replied, trying to look as strong as I could. But he was right; I've used a lot of energy since the beginning of the battle and he's used hardly anything, it seemed that experience was winning that time. But I hadn't planned to lose that fight, so I started to develop my "Coup de Graçe"

- Well, if you think you can really win, just come here you shrimp!

- ARRRRGHHH! I WON'T FORGIVE THAT!

And then he transmuted his auto-mail arm into a sword, just he used to do, next he ran I ran toward me.

- At last you take this seriously, - I said, after I transmuted a blade from the ground – how many times I've to tease you for you to want to hurt me. Make this battle more interesting, midget.

I know that even if I said he is a midget a thousand times, he wouldn't be able to make me even a scratch; I also know if I were another person, I would be lying lifeless on a corner after feeling his wrath. But I'd had to pressure him to keep attacking me so I could put in motion my plan. While he was attacking me, I was drawing something on the floor with my feet.

We were on that plan for a while, when I finished my drawing, I got distracted for only a seconds and Ed took that in advantage, destroying what really was his target: One of my gloves.

But after he could realize, I used my now bare hand to activate the TC (Transmutation Circle) I'd just drawn on the floor, and the other to make a small whirlwind for making him to withdraw.

- And now that your weapon is useless, I think this battle is over, don't you think Al? – He said, almost claiming victory.

- Oh, C'mon you've only reduced my possibilities by half – I said, grinning – I was wrong when I said you were rusty, but you're cold; in fact, in fact, you haven't seen every transmutation process that had happened in this battle, and that's my advantage. In fact, you were right, this battle is over but with a final you didn't expected

I was ready to use my triumph card; my greatest technique. In that time I didn't know why but I was able to divide my soul into several parts and put those parts in inanimate object, giving me plenty control of them. Not much time later, I realized that was because my soul had been divided in two places at the same time, one in the Armour suit, and the other in my own body, lost between the gates.

So, I put a part on my soul into a very familiar suit of armour I'd just transmuted behind my brother, and ordered it to hug him, and then to fall down.

- AAARRRRGGGHHHH! …. MY BACK! – He shouted

- And then "niisan" what do you think about my "Affectionate Coup de Graçe"?

- ARGH! JUST TAKE THIS THING AWAY FROM ME!

- You only have to say soooooomethiiiiing.

- HRMPH! … Ok Ok, I give up … You won.

- He he, that wasn't difficult, was it?.

Then I drained my part of soul out from the armour and released my brother, after we sat down using a tree as a support.

- That was a good battle; you were as amazing as always "niisan"

- Oh! Well, thanks for the compliment. But I didn't realize you've got better that much. You really have trained a lot. And I've forgotten you used to draw pretty fast the TCs. And using that whirlwind for making me not to see the other transmutation was pretty accurate.

After some seconds of silence I finally said

- "Niisan"

- What's wrong, brother?

- Please forgive me for all the teases of before; I didn't want to hurt you.

- Don't worry about that little brother; you were only using your opponent's weakness as your advantage, like a good warrior do. And I don't mind if the teases come from you.

- Thank you, "niisan".

Then I rested my head on his chest and he started playing with my hair. We were resting on that position until we figured that it was getting late. So we decided to return home.

- Oh! "Niisan" you're so mean – I said, with a ridiculous angry voice – that was one of my favourite gloves.

- Don't worry about it, we could made another one and draw the same array – he replied – you surely have memorized it, if you haven't I've already done it.

- Yeah! I remember it; but it was the last gift master gave me before I began searching you.

- talking about her, I haven't asked. How is she?

The question froze me, I didn't know if it was a good idea to tell him that she'd died. Despite of the torturous training we had with her, I've always known that he looked her as a mother, so as I.

- Er… well the last time I saw her she was pretty healthy, any of her blood coughs had taken her for a while. She had been able to come with me to rizenbul, where I started my journey.

- Oh well, I'm happy to hear that.

And that was true. I received the notice when I was in Central city, from a letter from Winry. I remember that day as the saddest of my own journey. I remember being crying for almost a day and a nigh, alone in my inn's bedroom, without my brother to console each other. That was the day I missed him more than ever.

We were finally going home when something bothered me, a sensation of sadness and loneliness

- Something is not good here "niisan" – I said - I can feel that someone or something is very sad, scared and alone and is crying… yes… his crying is filling all the atmosphere around here. We should go and search what is happened maybe is a lost child in the middle of the forest and we don't know what kind of animal could attack him.

And then I started to run towards the place where I thought that feelings where calling. And if you ask me how I could sense the feelings, please don't bother me, even know I don't know how I do some things.

- Hey Al! Stop running too fast, I hardly can keep up your pace – my brother shouted – it's too dangerous to run deeper into this forest, you didn't know it

- Don't worry I know where we are going

- But How!

- I don't know

We kept running for a while until we arrive in front of a very large tree; probably the largest of all the forest. In its base was a kid, sitting in fetal position, crying forlorn.

- What happened to you little boy – I said with my kindest voice – did you get lost? Where your parents live?

- I don't have parents – he replied – I don't know where I am….. I don't ….. I don't remember….

- But what have you been doing? Don't you remember how you get lost in this forest?

- I don't … I don't remember…I just remember pain and suffering and… and… Seith is dead, Seith is dead and now I'm alone… ALONE - And then he started to cry even louder.

- Please don't cry – I said even softer – I'm here to help you. Please stand up, we'll see what can we do

After some other words, I finally achieved to make him stand up. Then I figured out that something on his neck was shining red, I was going to check it when my brother said

- Stay quiet. Something is coming

And from all places, we could see shining yellow eyes coming towards us. Then nightmare animals became from the places the eyes were; deformed creatures with parts of different normal animals. Alchemized beings: Chimeras.

There were at least 10 of them. Horse body, with huge eagle talons instead of feet and a horrible and big Rottweiler head; that beings were starving and they saw us as their salvation prey.

- Keep there both of you – Ed shouted – you can't help me now, you don't have your two gloves Al.

Then he started transmuting spikes from the ground against them and started to attack them with his sword-arm.

"Dammit, I just can't wait and see how those creatures eat my brother" I thought, so I decided to drawn the transmutation circle on my flesh. So I transmuted a small needle, pierced myself and then started to draw the array with my own blood. Then I used a small fire I'd just transmuted to dry the blood faster.

- Stay here please – I said the little boy, then I went to help my brother transmuting a heavy sword to start slicing those chimeras.

We were able to kill most of them, but one deceived our defence, and ran straight of the kid.

- OH NO! YOU CURSED CREATURE, COME BACK AND RECEIVE YOUR PUNISHMENT! (Didn't I sound like scar?)

We rushed to chase it, but it seemed it was too late, the chimera jumped with its opened jaws trying to eat the little boy. But suddenly, a clap sounded, and then we saw the chimera that attacked the little boy exploding, leaving all its burned flesh lying around.

- Did you do that "niisan"- I asked him

- No, I though you were the one…

Before he could finish what he wanted to say, the smoke of the explosion finally dissipated, we saw then the kid standing like a stone, with a terror look in his face, and with his hands put in defensive position, all covered with chimera blood. The thing on his neck was shining like a red sun.

- The boy… was the one ho clapped - both of us said, not believing what we were seeing.