Chapter 3: Hello, Alphonse

Elly suddenly felt someone take her by her right arm and she jumped, then quickly realized it was Blondy standing behind her. He grinned, but not at her, at the perturbed shop keeper in front of them.

"I apologize for my sister, ma'am," Ed began, still flashing a toothy grin while Elly stared at him, bewildered. "Where in the world have you been! Don't you know I've been worried sick?" His eyes, like two gold nuggets, bore into her. Elly only frowned down at him. Turning his attention back to the plump woman, he explained, "You have to forgive her, she's a little," and Ed made a swirly motion with his index finger, gesturing at his head, "nuts. Bye!" And before Elly could berate him for it he yanked her from the shop.

"Elly!" Al said cheerfully. She smiled up at him, then pulled away from Ed, rubbing her arm.

"Ya know, you're insanely strong." And Ed stood proudly at the compliment. "I mean, for someone so small anyway." Ed exploded into a rage, his face contorting into one more befitting for a gargoyle.

"Damn you're aggravating! I've only known you for about twenty minutes now, and already I can't stand you!" Elly folded her arms.

"Yeah? So what was that all about?" She stuck out her thumb, pointing in the direction of the shop. When Ed said nothing she continued, "You made it pretty clear before you didn't want me with you, so I left. But then you show up, like you were looking for me, proceed to lie about me being 'nuts' and then dragged me from a store only to blow up in my face. NOW who's aggravating, Mr. Elric?" Al was silent, rattled by all this drama. Ed stared at her then abruptly turned to his brother who gave him a nervous look.

"What do you think, Al?"

"Uh..."

"Hey, now don't go bringing him into this! Al's polite and kind and considerate and you're, just, well," Elly stammered, trying to figure out what to say next; hopefully something clever. "Not!" No such luck.

Ed sneered and walked away, leaving Al conflicted and Elly upset. She mumbled after him, "Idiot..." Al watched Ed storm off and sighed. He looked to Elly who stood before him, pouting. And while her features may have reminded him of his mother, she began to remind him more of his brother.

"I'm sorry I acted the way I did," Elly told Al as the two stood nearby a small lake while she skipped stones.

"Ed can be a lot to handle sometimes." He offered.

"Oh yeah," She agreed, then paused. "But then, I guess, so can I." Elly let herself fall to the ground, back flat against the grass, her eyes reflecting the blue in the sky above. Al sat down beside her, staring out onto the water where a dragonfly landed.

"So you really don't believe us?" He asked innocently. Elly lifted her head from off the ground and looked at him but he maintained his gaze on the ripples. She laid her head back down, allowing the blades of grass to cushion her.

"Yes and no." Confused, Al turned his head to look down at her and she sat up, hugging her knees. "What I mean is, yes I believe what you've told me, most of it, but you left out bits and pieces." Al tensed because she was right. As he listened to Ed explain their story earlier, his brother had intentionally left out a few details. For one, he did not bring up the philosophers stone which had surprised Al, and two, he never said a thing about their mother. Al didn't exactly know what to say, he felt like saying sorry but couldn't bring himself to speak. "So, what Ed said about you, that's true, right?"
Al snapped out of his trance of thoughts,

"Uh, yes. It's true."

"Can I look?" Al flinched,

"Look?"

"Yeah, inside. I want to see what you really look like." Even though it was not visible, Al frowned. Didn't she know it was his soul that was attached to the armor? His physical body had been lost. That much, Ed had divulged.

Puzzled, Al allowed it, removing his helmet which he half expected to shock her by doing but she didn't seem the least bit taken back. Instead, she slowly got to her knees and looked inside the armor. She knelt this way, peering in, Al holding his substitute metal head. He began to think, for anyone passing by, it must have been some sight. And then, he realized she was smiling gently down at him.

"Hi, Al." Elly said simply, as if for the first time.

Ok so I'm having more fun writing this than first expected and I've shelled out more chapters! wootness. They came pretty easy to me, dontchya just love it when the words flow well? yay. more to come soon, please review! it's really appreciated. thank ya.