Disclaimer: I own nothing

I have been getting complaints about the story size! However, I shall maintain a 500 words per chapter quota. If I wanted to, this could all be combined and turned into a oneshot. But I'm too smart for that because I know onesots get less attention. O no! I wrote an author's note! -faints-

I Will Be With You Again

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I strained to listen over the sound of the babbling creek. I thought I could make out a bird on a nearby tree. My stomach growled. I had sustained myself with grass loaf and alchemy purified water for two days, so any form of meat would have been good at that point.

Creeping around tree trunks with stealth, I spotted a fat robin squatting on a branch, calling out. It didn't seem to notice as a picked up a stone and aimed carefully for its full chest. I chucked the stone and it missed by a few feet. Startled, the bird flew off and I lost my chance at protein.

I sat down on a rotted tree and sighed. Al was no where to be found. What if Mustang had already gotten to him? The possibility of my poor, innocent brother being sent to trial sickened me. I stood with new determination and began again my search with vigor. I was going to be with Alphonse again. I just knew it.

I changed my automail arm into a blade and wielded it like a machete. I sliced furiously at the vexing vegetation that made my burden harder to bear. Keeping the stream in sight as a marker, I proceeded with alertness for any sign of my little brother.

I heard a low growl and turned just in time to see a large dog jump and pin me, trying to snap at my face. Frightened, I jabbed at the dog. It leapt away, spry as a cat and watched me like a circling shark. It was a large bloodhound, and would have had a goofy appearance, had it not attacked me. Its ears were too long and eyes were blood shot like a drunken man's. His lips hung an inch lower than where his jaw ended. But his legs were powerful and his teeth were bared, exposing a row of white fangs.

"Down, boy!" an agitated voice called.

I turned and saw a squat man jogging up the to where we were with a red face. When he reached us, he doubled over and had a coughing fit from the exertion. The dog had sat down obediently and had stopped growling. The man regained his composure.

"Hi. I'm Phil Dunmohr. I'm sorry if ole' Smokey was a problem for ya, He's been leading me around these woods all day on the trail and I'm beginning to wonder if he smells anything at all," the man wheezed.

I looked him over. "Mind if I ask who or what you're tracking?"

"The fancy military men said I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. They said they would've sent one of their own, but their canine units is for combat, not tracking. Besides, they said, I probably know best about these here woods. And I said, "Yes sir!"

"Was the military man's name Roy Mustang?" I asked.

Phil Dunmohr thought on it. Scratching his bald head, he grumbled, "Something like that. I gotta go, before Smokey wonders off without me!"

I noticed the dog had risen and had begun to sniff around. I considered following the man and his dog, but thought better of it as the dog's trail led him to a squirrel instead of Al. Phil started chasing after his high-strung dog and I was left alone again.

Now Mustang's got blood-hounds after Al. I had better hurry and find him.

Crossing the stream to search the other half of the forest, I nearly ran into a large bear. It was sitting in the river cooling itself, wallowing lazily like a pig. It didn't even notice me. I made sure to stay clear of it and be more alert next time.

Drying myself with alchemy, I continued, enjoying the serenity of nature, listening to the brook and the sounds of the summer cicadas. Feeling hot, but being refreshed by the breeze. Tasting the fresh berries on a mulberry tree. Smelling the aroma of wild flowers. Seeing the beauty of it all. It almost took m mind off of Al. But when I heard a dog, presumably Smokey, bay, I quickly forgot my happiness and searched madly.

Looking up at the sky, I noticed something I hadn't before. A thin line of smoke came from about a mile away, by my judging. Smoke meant people. I sprinted in that direction, ignoring the pounding of my heart and the pain from my chest. Coming to a small clearing, I spied Al, carefully tending a fire. It looked as though he was controlling the smoke by using birch bark. I supposed he didn't want to be found. I wondered why.

Stepping out into the clearing, Alphonse looked up with terror and seeing me, he grew pale. He stuttered, "I-I thought you were dead! I... I... killed you!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked truly confused.

"Stay back!" he nearly screamed.

I cocked my head. "Al, everyone's trying to tell me you shot me. They're lying, aren't they. Come back with me and you can tell them, prove that I'm right."

Al shook his head. "I did shoot you, Ed. They aren't lying."

It looked like Al smirked as he let it sink in.

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