***

"NO! EDWARD!" Alphonse screamed as he made a mad lunge at the monster in front of him. Both Roy and Riza grabbed an arm to hold back the Full Heart Alchemist.

"Alphonse, don't! You'll only be killed!" Riza pleaded as the beast's harsh laughs rang in their ears.

"I don't care! It ate my brother; we have to get Ed out of that thing!" Al raved while he violently thrashed from side to side. Gritting his teeth, Roy barely managed to pull Al and Riza out of the way as the enemy took another swipe at them. The three fell onto the hard ground from the vacuum created by its swing and rolled quickly to the side.

"Alphonse, get a hold of yourself! Recklessly attacking the enemy will only get us all killed!" Roy said sternly. While talking, the fuhrer snapped his fingers in the general direction of the beast to create another scorching flame. It would buy them a couple more seconds to recuperate. "Get up. Think while you fight. We'll do our best to get him out of there," Roy promised. Wiping premature tears from his face, Al nodded shakily and stood as the monster emerged from the flames.

***

Ed's eyes opened slowly to gaze upon a fuzzy image of his brother's smiling face. "…am I dead?" the Full Metal alchemist asked. The floating head that was Alphonse chuckled.

"No, not yet, but you will be soon if you don't hurry." Ed looked around, but could find no light in the darkness.

"So I'm really inside that thing. I'm surprised I'm still alive," He couldn't help admitting. "So… what now?" He asked what he believed to be the fragment of Alphonse's soul. Al had no answer for him. "I thought I would die. I never imagined that I'd get stuck inside this bastard. Think Edward, think!" Ed walked in a circle with his arms folded across his chest. "My brother got me out of the gate by sending his soul in after me. Now I have found the piece of his soul… so, could it possibly work the other way around? This thing is an extension of the gate, it looks like…" For all of his musings though, Edward couldn't be sure. He was back down to guessing and hoping for the best. He sat there for a long while, contemplating his options, but even after he had decided he realized, "I have nothing to draw that transmutation circle with."

"What about your blood?" Floating Alphonse suggested. Edward grimaced. It would have to do. Reaching into his jacket, Ed pulled out his silver pocket watch. Opening it up, he slammed it into the ground and cracked the glass face. He cut his hands using a shard of glass and began to draw the circle he had shown Alphonse in his dreams. When he had finished he stood back to admire his handiwork.

"It may not work, you know. You could end up dead, or worse, you might kill me," The image of Al told him.

"True, I don't know anything for sure, but I've got to try, right? My brother and the others are probably still fighting on the other side. If I can return my brother's soul, equivalent exchange will be fulfilled and we can defeat this thing."

"No, that would require your death. Or have you forgotten that you were in the gate when all of this occurred?" Al corrected him. Edward smiled.

"I guess this is the moment of truth then. Do or die!" Clapping his hands, Ed slowly lowered them to the crimson transmutation circle and watched the sparks fly.

***

"Roy!" Riza cried as the fuhrer was smashed against the rock wall. She ran to him while furiously unloading a round of bullets in the enemy's face. Al used his alchemy to distract it so she could tend to her husband. From where Alphonse stood, things didn't look good. It was only a matter of time before they would fall prey to the monster like Edward had. The beast simply shook its head and all of the bullets lodged in its face dropped to the ground. It sounded like metal rain. Although Al was barraging it with alchemic attacks, it was only slowing it down. Then, it completely ignored the younger Elric and turned to the wounded Fuhrer Mustang.

"No, leave him alone!" Al yelled as he ran towards it.

"Stay back, Alphonse!" Riza warned as she continued firing at the monstrosity. Just as it was raising its black clawed hand to take down the Mustang couple with one swoop, Alphonse Elric stepped in front of them with his arms outstretched. A screeching laugh emitted from its twisted mouth. As the hand came down, Alphonse closed his eyes.

"I don't want to die like this," he whispered faintly. But he knew that it was hopeless. Why prolong the torture when he could just accept his fate? So he waited. And waited. And waited some more. What was taking so long? Get it over with!

When Al opened his eyes, it was to a blinding blue light. The monster was seated on its haunches with its head back and mouth hanging open. A flash of alchemy was coming from inside it. Unsure of what to make of this, the beast clawed at its insides. Gagging, it suddenly fell backwards and lay still. Taking extreme caution, Al stepped towards it out of curiosity. He stepped directly into a puddle of the blood that was flowing from the monster's mouth.

"What happened?" Riza wondered. The monster twitched and Alphonse quickly took a step back. A sucking noise was coming from its head. Al peered around the side of the large body to find a crimson mass slipping out of the demon's mouth. It was coughing and retching. "A parasite?" Riza whispered.

"No, it's me!" Claimed a familiar voice. Wiping the grime and blood from off his face, the blob revealed itself to be Edward Elric.

"Brother!" Al shouted with joy. Ignoring everything else, the younger Elric ran to hug Edward, disregarding the blood and guts that instantly covered him.

"Haha, not so tight, Al," Ed pleaded. Alphonse immediately released him and was opening his mouth to say something else when the creature let out a shudder. With a groan, it opened its red eyes.

"It's not dead!" Al exclaimed. Grabbing Edward and pulling him back, they both narrowly avoided getting cut in half by the beast's sharp teeth.

"Edward Elric!" It hissed.

"What are we going to do?!" Alphonse asked his older brother.

"This!" Edward said while clapping his hands. "Al, quickly, you too!" Al didn't ask questions, he just did what he was told. As the monster readied itself to pounce, Ed put one of his hands against Al's and then instructed him to put his free hand to the ground while he did the same. When their hands touched and the alchemic energy moved between them Alphonse felt as if something had been returned to him. Combining the power of the Elric alchemists, the two created an explosion that filled the cave with smoke and caused the entire earth to shake. "Come on, let's get out of here!" Edward shouted above the noise. Riza helped the disoriented Mustang to his feet and the four of them ran back to the entrance of the cave while rocks fell down all around them. The morning light greeted them just as the cave collapsed in their wake, followed by a scream of agony. Dropping to the forest floor, the four friends panted and wheezed to try and catch their breaths. Once all their breathing had returned to normal, everything was silent.

"How?" Alphonse murmured as he stared up at the sky.

"Fate, I guess," Edward responded. Al turned to look at his brother. He too, was staring at the sky.

"I know you don't believe in that," Al chided. A smile slowly made its way onto Edward Elric's face.

Suddenly, the quiet forest was disrupted by the sound of cars racing through the clearing. All four of the fighters sat up to see a line of military cars headed in their direction. Hanging out of the windows of the first car while waving frantically were Fury, Fallman, and Havoc. Armstrong was in the driver's seat. Everyone got to their feet as the cars came to a halt.

"Let me handle this," Roy said wearily. Riza helped to support his weight as he took a few steps forward. Most of the military brass had arrived on the scene. They had some explaining to do, but at least everyone was safe. Edward and Alphonse exchanged knowing glances before they were surrounded my concerned friends and military personnel.

The next hour passed in a blur. Roy had to explain his actions to the council, many of which weren't very happy, but it appeared that the threat had been neutralized without any casualties. There were some minor injuries however, so the plan was to get everyone to the nearest hospital for treatment. Since Roy Mustang had acted without permission from the council, they would have to decide on some sort of punishment. Edward and Alphonse had also disobeyed the state with their actions, but mutually decided to resign as State Alchemists so they would be let off the hook. It seemed that the names of Full Metal and Full Heart would be forever put to rest.

Once everything had settled down, Roy invited the Elrics to come back with them to Central, but Edward had other plans.

"I can see a doctor here in Resembol, and besides, Winry will be worried."

"Yes, apparently the military dropped her off at her house before coming here," Roy noted.

"Well then, I'm sure you'll understand why we can't come back with you," Ed went on. Roy could only nod. "And listen… I'm sorry if we caused any trouble," Edward added. For a moment, Mustang looked genuinely surprised, but he quickly regained his usual demeanor.

"What's this? An apology from Full Metal? Were you getting oxygen to your brain while inside that monster? Listen Edward, don't worry about it. Even if I am dismissed from my position as fuhrer, I won't blame you. And there is absolutely no need to thank me. I came to your rescue out of the kindness of my heart. I don't consider you in my debt whatsoever," Roy went on. Edward scowled and crossed his arms.

"Okay Colonel Sarcasm, I get it. Thanks for saving my ass, all right? Jeez, now get out of my town. I don't take pleasure in putting down military dogs," Edward retorted. Grinning without shame, Roy offered a playful salute before being helped into his car by his wife. After saying their goodbyes to the rest of the military, Edward and Alphonse began walking in the direction of Winry's house. They started up her walkway just as the sun had fully risen over the horizon. As they came closer they realized that she was already waiting for them on the front porch. When they reached her the boys smiled sheepishly, but for once, Winry didn't scold them. All she did was open her arms and say, "Welcome home."