Thanks again to all that read this.

I do not own FMA or try to claim I do.

Please allow me to tell you a story.

Chapter 4

Rescue and Sacrifice

It's late afternoon and Ed and Al await their death. They have had nothing to eat, drink, and have been silenced physically by the men watching them. Less than an hour will be it. All their hard work and good they have done for this world and their own has not helped them out at all. Ed gets up and goes to sit beside Al. He puts his arm around him to comfort his brother who has not even looked up for hours. Hope is something of a luxury and neither of them has any left.

"Damn it Armstrong we won't make it!"

"Keep running Major those two need us badly."

The Major and Lt. Colonel have just learned of the fugitive Elrics and their sentence. In a very short time they will be killed. Edward runs as hard as he can but is no match for Armstrong. They had to beat a soldier pretty bad to get that information out of him and where they are being held. The spot where they were sent was is good distance from where they were being kept but traveling in search for them put them on the wrong side of the city. They were four miles from their location.

"We should have brought more men. I had no idea breaking into a military complex would be something to consider."

"I guess those boys still do get into trouble. If we don't hurry this whole trip will be for nothing and we will be bringing them back to bury them."

Running through a city is a lot harder then through the country. People are so hard to get around sometimes. Thomas hasn't had to run like this in a long time. The past two years were all for research. If he knew he would have to run this bad he would have at least kept a little better in shape. Breathing hard and long he still trails just shortly behind Armstrong. The Lt. Colonel hasn't even broken a sweat.

"Hang on boys. You're not allowed to die now. Please God let me get there in time."

The Elrics are met with an armed escort at their cell. They get up and men fill the cell with guns pointed at them. Handcuffs are placed on both boys. Two soldiers force them from the cell and down the hall of the prison. Ed tries to hold his head up to show no fear but Al still hasn't lifted his. Turning the corner and heading for steel door out to the courtyard they are greeted by the General of that station. He opens the door and they are escorted to the wall covered in blood. Their hands still in cuffs are tied to slots in the walls above their heads. The soldiers move back and stand on the other side awaiting the order the fire.

"Al, I'm sorry for not being able to get us out of this."

Al lifts his head to look at his brother "Brother I'm sorry I couldn't get us home. If I did that we wouldn't be here. We could be back home with Winry and Pinnaco. I let you down Ed and I hope you can forgive me."

"No Al you didn't let me down. I have been able to spend these past two years with you. We did something great and everyone back home would be proud of us."

The soldiers are given the order to raise their guns. Ed and Al are staring straight ahead of what is waiting for them.

"Al, I love you we had one hell of a ride."

"I love you to brother and yes we did."

They hear the words take aim from the General and instead of gun shots they hear an explosion. The wall to Ed's left had a huge hole blown right through it. A dust cloud filled the courtyard and soldiers covered their faces. Ed and Al closed their eyes but when they opened them they heard gun shots. Four soldiers dropped dead to the ground and a figure walked through the dust and stone. A tall man with white hair and long coat stood beside Ed and Al. In his right hand was a pistol different from the ones the soldiers had. He opened fire and the remaining soldiers ran for cover at the platform where the nooses were at.

"Lt. Colonel Armstrong get these boys out of here!"

Wide eyed Ed says "What did you say?"

Armstrong comes into the courtyard runs to the boys and breaks the ropes that tied them to the wall. He throws them on his shoulders and bolts out the hole. Ed and Al watch as this stranger is still shooting towards the soldiers. He turns and runs behind them. They hear a gunshot and see him jolt his right arm. The sound wasn't the bullet hitting flesh but metal. Ed knew that sounds and could see a glimpse of steel through the mans jacket. He had automail. Running down the streets as fast and hard as they can they dive into a building and wait to see if they have been followed.

"I think we lost them. We don't have time to be wasting here we have to get back to the doorway."

"Wait Lt. Colonel who is this man? How did you get here? What doorway?"

"Edward we don't have to time to explain now. We need to get you two home now or you will be killed here. If we don't hurry we will all be stuck here."

The four start running with Armstrong in the lead. Al is behind him and Ed right behind Al. The Major is behind Ed. He keeps looking back to see if the enemy has caught them. Ed keeps looking back at the stranger trying to figure out if he knows him. After running for a while they enter the building that Armstrong and Thomas came through.

"Armstrong take them through. I will stay here incase they show up."

"Come on boys into the doorway. Home is on that other side."

"Go Now! Damn it they found us!"

Ed screams at this man. "We can stay and fight too we're not helpless."

"Ed get through that damn door. I couldn't face my sister if I let her two sons die."

Ed and Al freeze. The eyes opened wide and a state of shock took over them. The man starts shooting through windows at any soldier coming to the building.

"Oh my god, what did he say?" Ed says trembling.

"Armstrong I said take them."

He grabs the two boys and runs to the door. The boys start screaming to the man still shooting. Ed looks forward and sees a familiar face standing on the other side. I man with an eye patch putting on white gloves. Mustang can see what is happening and is ready for whatever has to come through that door. Armstrong Runs through the doors and Hawkeye and Havoc take the boys. They see Thomas start to run towards them. Shooting away and trying to get to the door. Mustang grabs a gun and goes through and starts shooting at anything he can to help his friend. With Thomas almost to the door he yells at Mustang to get in. Roy gets through the door and Edward jumps into it. Most of his body gets through the door then it stops. The Yellow light returns and the gate appears before them.

The Major starts screaming in pain as his right leg is being ripped from his body. Ed and Al are horrified by the gate and even more so seeing this man scream like that. He falls to the floor blood pouring from where his leg once was. After that the gate disappears and its just the doorway again. Shooting starts up again as Mustang and Hawkeye shoot through the door at soldiers coming toward it. Major Thomas claps his hands and places them on the circle and closes the door. The glass vile holding the red stones shatters and Ed's pocket watch falls to the floor.

Ed and Al rush over to Thomas. He roles over on his back and sees his two nephews staring down on him. Roy and Armstrong come over and start to wrap his leg. Ed and Al don't know what to say to this man before them. Thomas passes out from a loss of blood as medics are getting there. Roy, Ed, Al, and Armstrong are standing there as they watch the Major being taken away.

"Well Full Metal I can see you still know how to have a good time."

"General , thank you for everything."

"Don't thank me Ed. Your godfather and uncle Major Edward Thomas is the one who brought you back."

"That is our mothers maiden name. Is he really our uncle?"

Al asks. "Is he really our godfather?"

Mustang looks down on the two boys. "Yes he is. The famous State Alchemist from the north. The Energy Alchemist. Your mothers older brother and your last blood relative either of you has left."