Me- Man oh man…after readin' the last chapter over to myself…it's the writers block I tell you, the writers block!

Ed- Is torturing me finally taking its toll on you?

Me- Like heck it has! Besides I've still got a few more chapters to go before the story is done…for the moment anyway.

Ed- Peachy

Me- Awh come on, don't tell me you aren't having a little fun.

Ed- Nope…none at all…

Me- …

Ed- What?
Me- I'll make you ware a dress...and act like a sweet little girl evil grin

Ed- O.o;; Loads! Loads and loads of fun!

Me- That's a good boy still grinning evilly. Anyway…I know how I want this story to end…it's just getting there, Oy…please enjoy, if I'm starting to slack off PLEASE tell me! If something like that is happening and I don't realize it, it tends to carry on into my other work (thus…my other two stories wont have updates until I'm done with this story T.T).

Chapter Eighteen: Remember or suffer…

Alphonse watched as his brother stood there, he looked as if something was squeezing the life out of him. Al didn't like what was happening but he knew this was the only way…if telling him wouldn't make him remember then showing him was the only way.

"Make it stop!" Ed shouted.

"Tell me brother…do you remember what our teachers first lesson was?" Al replied, he figured he'd try testing him to see if he remembered anything. Al wasn't sure what memories he was being shown but they where bound to trigger something that would help his brother remember everything.

"I don't know!"

"I'm sorry brother…if I make it stop you will hurt someone…" Al said. Edward then sank to the ground and put his hand on his forehead, the cloth that was still in his hand, seemed to make things even worse. The closer it got to his mind, in this case his head, the more 'potent' the memory and thus more painful.

"Ngh…shut up! Just make it stop!"

"Not until you answer the question! If you think I'm enjoying this then you are sorely mistaken brother…I hate myself for doing this. I don't like seeing you in pain, but it was the only choice I could make. Don't let that darker half win ok brother…he's not you and you're not him. He doesn't want you to remember, that's why it's so painful, he's trying to block them out…I know you're stronger then he is." Al had glanced up at him then back to the ground.

"…"

Ed had stopped talking now, his hand was at his side now and he seemed to have passed out because he wasn't moving…he just sat there. Al looked up and saw his brother just sitting there,

"Brother?" he walked over to him "Hey…are you ok?"

No response, Al reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder and asked,

"Can you hear me brother?"

"…yeah…" he responded, his voice was very low and very out of it. It was like the lights where on but nobody was home; he just wasn't with it completely.

"Brother!" Al couldn't believe it, it was his real brother and not the dark one.

"…"

"Do you remember now! What teachers first lesson was?" Al asked.

"A…all…is one?" he replied.

"Yes…and!" Al was near hysterics…did it really work? Was his brother remembering?

"…"

"And?"

Ed just shook his head; he twitched slightly as if a sudden sharp pain had run through his whole body.

"Come on brother…if you just finish the answer…" Al encouraged, but it was in vain…his brother had gone back into a state of pain and suffering. It was clear now that even though he was putting up a fight to remember, the darker half was still stronger and was preventing him from finishing the question.

"Brother…what can I do? I've tried everything I could think of and yet it's only caused you to suffer."

Al was starting to wonder if his idea was really all that great, if it would have really helped his brother or just make things worse. Seeing no point in continuing this torture Al reached out and was about to take the cloth away.

"Don't!" Ed slapped Al's hand away.

"W…what?"

"Don't…"

Al drew his hand away slightly, was it working? He sat down next to Ed and watched for a moment…something was telling him to wait just a little bit longer. It was hard yes, but he would wait.

Ed's POV (Both… 'evil' Ed will be in bold letters)

It was like looking in a mirror; there I was standing right in front of me. He was glaring at me with such hatred it was chilling, why would I look like that? There was something about him though…something about him I understood. What exactly that was I wasn't entirely sure of, maybe it has something to do with my lost memories. I decided to ask him…most regrettably.

There…just standing there giving me that questioning look, the weaker personality. I had never actually seen him before, at least not in terms of 'seeing' him. I knew he was there and he threatened my existence…but to actually see him made my skin crawl. Then he has the nerve to ask me about his memories, my only answer was a swift punch to the face…it's funny really…how even though we are two separate people, personalities, whatever…I still feel connected in some way. That and the fact that even though I hit him and he most definitely got the point not to ask that again, I felt it too…most regrettably.

I didn't really like that answer…why'd he hit me? It was just a question…wait…is he the one trying to stop me from remembering? That would answer why he didn't like my mentioning of my memories…perhaps he's the part of me that doesn't wish to remember. Is…was my life really all that bad? It was strange, he seems to know more about what's going on then I do. Why is it he looks so spooked? What did he see? Perhaps I should ask…this time I'd be ready if he decides to attack again.

What is with all these questions! Asking what I was so afraid of…ha! Hmmm, but maybe he's catching on…if that's the case then he'll start remembering. He might even start seeing what I'm seeing, damn memories…if he starts remembering then…then I'll die and I can't let that happen. With me starting to remember that greatly weakens my chance of survival, I'll make him shut up. Perhaps the first punch didn't quite set in the fact I want nothing to do with him and he should just lie down and die.

I was right; he did try and attack me again. Funny, his moves where so predictable because…that's what I would have done. He is a part of me and yet…he's so different, where have I seen this hatred before? No matter, I sidestepped his attack and returned it with a somewhat defensive kick to the shin…now if I had been thinking I would have realized this but no…not only did I manage to cause him a great amount of pain, it was a good kick, but I also managed to cause myself a great deal of discomfort. It was a really good kick…and I felt it first hand.

Damn! That pest…he's got some fight in him still. That really hurt too, but judging by the look on his face if he hurts me he'll feel it. Just like if I hurt him I'll feel it…stupid irony. Why now of all times? I hate looking at him and I hate the fact that he's so weak minded and weak hearted. If he was so great…then why does he look so pathetic now? Oh wait…because I won't let him remember how 'great' he was…chalk one up for me I guess. But he gets on too for being down right irritating.

Al's POV

Brother stopped shaking now, he seemed to just stare into the dust as if deep in thought. What could be going on inside his mind right now? It could be possible that he's remembering something…or maybe…no I doubt that. Ed would never give in that easily, would he? I didn't like just sitting and doing nothing, but that was all I really could do. He said, more or less, not to touch the cloth but why? All it did was cause him pain. It's funny, to be perfectly honest I really never did understand half the things my brother did. Some of it was clear as day but the other stuff…the other stuff just didn't make too much sense, well, at the time didn't but everything always seemed to work out in some way. Hopefully it will this time too.

Ed's POV (Both)

It went on like much the same for the last few minutes, at least it seemed like a few minutes. I'd ask a question and he'd try and shut me up by attacking me, either way we both quite obviously felt it either way so it was starting to get pointless. What bothered me though was the fact that all the other me would do was glare at me with the utmost loathing. It was like I'd done something wrong to him and he wanted to see me suffer, how kind, why didn't he say anything? Seeing no other way around my curiosity I tried asking this…his reaction was much the same only this time he actually answered.

He is me and I am him, there's no going around that dead obvious fact. When he asked why I didn't talk my reply was simple…I hated him, I wanted to see him die, when an existence is threatened then said existence will stop at nothing to protect itself. Even if it means ending the existence of someone else. It looked like he didn't really like that answer, apparently he realized he was a threat to me and he would have to stand his own if he wanted to live. Being the weak fool that he is, he wouldn't even conceive the thought of killing another, which is exactly why I was going to win this fight.

That answer made it really clear that he wanted to kill me…I sort of figured that from the beginning. The way I saw it I had a few choices; one, I could die and let him win this 'fight'. Two, I could stand up and fight for my own existence. Three, I could let things just pan out. And four, I could actually kill this part of me. Well to be honest I didn't really like the sound of any of them. There was no way I was just going to die, and there was no way for me to fight if I'd just be beating myself up. If I let things pan out I may end up dead anyway and he'd win, and something deep down told me killing him wasn't the answer either…why isn't there more choices? That would make things slightly easier. No…that's not how things work…I'd have to choose something or live like this forever. Ignorant.

-To Be Continued-

Me- finishes reading reviews T.T I'll try and answer as many reviews as possible, it's not that I don't want too (heh, I've got some pretty interesting comments myself…nothing mean or bad…just interesting.)

Ed- drinking coffee This stuff is bitter but man does it give you a kick.

Al- Can I have some Nii-san?

Ed- Not until you're older…

Me- Give your brother some coffee…he has to deal with you in the story I think he deserves some too.

Ed- Not until he's older!

Me- holds up tiny miniskirt and tube top Now…

Ed- O.o;; gives Al cup of coffee

Me- Just so's everyone knows (whoa that almost rhymes) Al is in human form whilst in the side comments. I hope you all enjoy this chapter…oh and one more thing…at the very end I'll answer any question(s) anyone may have…ANY question…just send'm via e-mail or pm…or as a review (though I may not get to them until the end) I'll answer them to the best of my ability! . Read and enjoy!

Al- All jittery from the coffee Wheeeeeee!