Al was starting to feel uncomfortable; everyone was still staring at him.
After a few more moments he gathered enough of his thoughts to realize he should say something… anything.
He took a deep breath and tried to say, "My name is Alphonse Elric, what the heck is going on?" but what came out was, "Ed isn't dead."
Everyone looked at him incredulously, but Al smiled and felt as if someone had filled him with light.
He knew his brother was still alive.
"Brother can't be dead! If he gave himself up for me, that's Equivalent Exchange! Except I don't remember anything…so that means since I lost something I must have gained something as well! That means Ed is still alive! He just must be…well I don't know where he is exactly but it's a start!" Al rambled out loud in his sudden excitement.
Mustang sat up straighter in his bed, examining Alphonse with new eyes, "You mean to tell me that you're Alphonse Elric?"
Al bobbed his head as an affirmative, "And I'd really like to know what's going on."
Mustang leaned back on his pillows wearily, his young face aged with grief, "Well, it's a long story…and not the happiest one. I hope you're prepared to hear it."
-Ed-
Edward Elric sat with his head bowed.
He was thinking, desperately thinking about what he did wrong.
If I'm here than what happened to Al? Did it work? Is he alive? If he is what condition is he in?
"I knew that the Truth was cruel, but I never imagined…" He muttered into his lap.
He couldn't think of a worse torture, stuck on the other side of the gate with no way to know if his sacrifice had any meaning.
Hoenhiem entered the room, bringing in the chill of winter air and the smell of outdoors, disrupting his thoughts. Glancing up, he sighed.
"Are you still sitting in here sulking?" Hoenhiem asked in a respectful but fatherly voice.
"Yes," Ed answered honestly, "This doesn't make any sense… I made an equivalent exchange."
"You know Edward, good things do happen."
"Not in my experience."
Hoenhiem raised an eyebrow, "You don't think you deserve this? A chance at life? Perhaps this is a gift, a gift given to you because of all the people you saved, for your journey and determination."
Ed fell quiet and thought about that, a gift? Is this really a gift stuck in a strange unfamiliar world without knowing if my brother is safe or not? Away from all the people I care about? At thatEd couldn't help thinking about Winry.
Winry, smiling at home in Risembool…
Winry, rolling her eyes when he said something stupid…
Winry, furious, as she fixed his automail…
Hoenhiem cleared his throat and sighed, "I brought you some books so you can learn some more about this world. Perhaps that will help you decide if this really was a gift or not."
Ed perked up a bit at the mention of books; he picked up the first one labeled World Almanac and tried to loose himself in the pages so he would no longer have to think about the people he'd left behind.
Okay! So! I hope this is good so far, the second chapter is a bit shaky in my opinion, I was trying to actually think and feel what the characters would be going through at this point. If anyone has any thoughts on how this story could progress that would REALLY great! Thanks!
-Tandy