A/N 10/15/06: Hey! Chapter 3 is finally done! I just apologize about taking so long, school has been CRAZY this week and it was homecoming at our school so I had a ton to do for that. I guess I could've had it done sooner, but I also wasn't really sure where I was going with it, I needed to think ahead a little bit first. But now I know where I'm going, I at least have an idea of what the next 2 chapters are going to be so it shouldn't take me as long to write the next chapter. Anyway, please R and R, Thanks so much to AnakinVanhelsingLegolaSkywalker92, ArtificialRed, LinkFangirl01, Black and Red Rose, KristiexxBguyen, romance rocker, Skyforger, Harryswoman, harmony, Automailjunkie44, causmicfire, Mystryink, Castoro Chiaro, and Wing Zero Alchemist for all of their wonderful reviews!! The more you review, the faster I'll write! Anyway, on with the chapter…

A/N 10/18/06: Just had to make some minor adjustments to this chapter, and I'm working on Chapter 4 so hopefully that will be up soon! R & R!

Chapter 3

It felt like Al was falling, a hollow whooshing noise rushed past his ears as he weightlessly tumbled.

Suddenly his body roughly collided with a firm but soft surface. The whooshing sound was gradually replaced with the gentle orchestra of crickets.

Al felt groggy, and he lay still as his dull senses slowly began to sharpen. Although his aching body felt painfully sensitive, he managed to slowly pry his eyes open.

Wherever he was, it was black. Not the oppressive and suffocating black of that void he had been forced through, but it more resembled dark velvet sprinkled with specks of glistening diamond.

He realized that he was flat on his back staring up at the night sky. As Al acutely became aware of his surroundings he noticed a heavy suffocating weight on his chest making it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Slightly tilting his head he could see that his brother was sprawled across his torso.

Shakily sitting up, Al slowly slid Edward off, making it immediately easier to respirate. Pushing himself to a sitting position he tried to stand but his legs felt like jello and his head spun dangerously.

Defeated, he collapsed back on the ground and took to examining his brother.

"Brother. Wake up!" He tapped Edward lightly on the shoulder.

When there was no response, Al began to shake him, gently at first, but more and more vigorously when Ed didn't react.

Fearing what he might discover, Al tentatively placed two fingers on Ed's neck and was reassured by the steady thrum of his brother's pulse. Al sighed with relief and continued to inspect Edward's body for obvious injuries.

The only thing Al could really find wrong with the boy other than his dented automail was a shallow cut on the back of his head, slightly coated by a sticky layer of blood. Al wasn't sure how they had gotten there or even where they were.

From the tenderness of his own body coupled with the small bruises and scrapes on both of their bodies, it seemed like they had fallen, if at all, from only a minimal height.

Scratching his head, Al tried to recall what had happened to them but it felt like his brain was repeatedly thrusting itself against his skull and his thoughts were woozy.

He could remember the blinding blue light that came from activating their transmutation circle and then being forced into an oppressive, almost tangible darkness.

Maybe it had been hours, minutes, or even seconds that they had been in that black hole, but all he remembered after that was a falling sensation and then being deposited unceremoniously by the cruel void onto the grass.

As Al's mind gradually made the transition back to functioning properly, he began to absorb his surroundings.

Looking around he could see that they were in a generic countryside. Grassy hills stretched for miles in all directions with the exception of a downtrodden dirt road that was lazily curling itself around the smooth earthen mounds until it disappeared into the horizon.

It was apparently night time, but the swollen moon lit up the country side, a gentle blue light illuminating the natural setting. There was not a person or anything resembling civilization in sight, Al felt utterly isolated and alone.

Finally when his head was clear and his muscles strong enough, he attempted to stand again.

Groaning with the effort, he slowly pushed himself onto his felt as his aching limbs protested. Where were they? What were they supposed to do now?

Glancing at his brother's unconscious form, Al realized that he had to take the initiative and for the first time in as long as he could remember, he was the one in charge, he was the one responsible for taking care of Ed.

He didn't even know which world they were in, whether they had made it back to Amestris, or were in some other strange place, but the familiar countryside gave him a sense of comfort, rural areas like this were similar wherever he went and would always remind him of him of home, of Risembool.

Knowing that there was only one way of discovering which dimension he was truly in, Al got back down on his knees with a nervous sigh and pulled his gloves out of his pocket.

They were worn and faded from use, but also slightly dusty from misuse.

They had been inactive for about a year now and he was flooded with memories as he pulled the familiar fabric over his hands.

Al immediately felt reassured with his gloves on, the flimsy cloth giving him an unrealistic sense of confidence. In the alchemy world they gave him a feeling of certainty and control; they represented his alchemic powers and were used to channel them.

With his finger, the young alchemist casually traced the symbol on the palm of one of his gloves as he tried to suppress the hope that was welling up within him.

In Munich he had donned the gloves numerous times, knowing very well that alchemy would not work in that world, but each time still being filled with bitter anger, resentment, and disappointment when he couldn't produce the reaction.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, Al clapped his hands together and placed them on the ground.

As he slowly opened his lids, Al stared in amazement at the single blue flower that had sprung from the earth between his hands.

Still shocked with disbelief, he walked over to Edward and knelt beside him.

"Edward, wake up." He whispered as he once again shook his brother gently.

Except this time, Ed's eyes reluctantly fluttered open as he became aware of the environment around him.

Still dazed from waking, and confused from the light teasing smile that played across Al's face he asked, "Al…where…are we?"

Al just smiled wider, and as he grasped his brother's hand, helping him into a seated position he said in a voice barely audible and full of emotion,

"We did it, Brother. We're home."

A/N: Well, how was it? Let me know!! I'm sorry it doesn't accomplish much and it's not as long as it could be, I actually had plans to make it about twice this size, but it seemed like a good stopping point so the rest is going to be Chapter 4. R & R please!!!