Chapter Four: Homesickness

"Brother... Where are you?" a boy's voice sadly said.

"Al?" Ed asked. He ran to the door of his house, and when opening the door, sawf his brother sitting at a table with his mother, smiling brightly. His worried look turned to one of confusion. Didn't his brother just call out to him?

"Ed, what's wrong?" Al asked, noticing him standing in the doorway.

Ed gasped in surprise, realizing that he was staring. "Nothing."

"You sure?" Edward asked, appearing in another doorway.

"Brother, how could you leave me alone?"

"Y-yeah," Ed replied. A vision of metal armor flashed through Ed's mind. "What happened to our search for the philosopher's stone? You promised to return me to my body, brother."

Their mother ran over to Ed. "You look pale, are you feeling okay?" she asked as she felt his forehead.

"I... don't belong here..."

Ed woke up gasping for air.

"You're leaving? Already?" Al asked.

"I have to... I made a promise to my own Al."

"Do you have any idea of how to get back?" Edward (as Ed has been calling him in his mind) asked.

"Uh... I guess I'll try looking in the Central library to see if there's anything I can find."

"I'm going with you," Edward stated.

"But-"

"Look. There's been news about this guy killing alchemists in Central. You're like a twin brother to me, so I have to look out for you, right?"

"Uh..."

"You're going to Central?" their mother asked worriedly as she entered the room.

"I'll be fine! I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist, after all!" Ed asserted. "Besides, he was last seen at Eastern, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about."

"I would still feel better if you two went together... I'm sure your own mother would feel the same way, am I right?"

"Um..." Ed said, not really wanting to tell her about his mother.

"I'll go, too," Al said.

"No. It's too dangerous, Al. I'm older and more skilled in alchemy," Edward said. Al had to agree. Even though he had been practicing, he knew Edward was better.

"Wait!" their mother called from the doorway. The two Eds turned toward the house, where Trisha Elric was waving two paper bags. "I packed you boys a lunch."

Edward smiled embarrassedly. "Thanks, mom."

"Oh, and here," she said, holding up a cap. "People may get suspicious if they see two yous." Ed and Edward's clothing was pretty different - Ed with his usual red and black, and Edward with a t-shirt and jacket - but their faces and hair styles were the exact same, so the hat would help.

After taking the lunch and starting out again, Winry called out to them.

"Hey, Winry," Edward replied.

"Where are you two going so early?" she asked.

"We're heading to Central to see if we can find a way to send him home."

"But I didn't get a chance to take apart your arm, yet, Ed!" She said, running to Ed's side and grabbing his automail arm.

"Uh... I'd rather you didn't... You and your grandmother built it... Shouldn't you already know how it works?" Ed said as she swung his arm around.

"But I have to see how talented the other me is!" Winry insisted.

"Well, I'm sure you're just as talented..."

As she was examining his arm, she just happened to notice the watch chain Ed had. "...Is that... what I think it is...?" she asked, letting go of Ed's arm. Neither Ed said anything. "...How could you... How could you become a dog of the state!"

"I-It's not like that, Winry! I'm doing it for my brother!" Ed insisted.

"Al wanted you to become a State Alchemist?!" Winry yelled incredibly.

"No! - It's the only way we can find the Philosopher's stone so we can restore our bodies! Please Winry!" Ed pleaded. 'Isn't this the double of the girl that wanted to take my watch apart a few days ago in my dimension? ...I can't tell if she's different than my Winry or if it's just a mood swing.'

Winry stopped yelling. "You mean, Al has automail, too?"

"Well... Not exactly..." Ed answered, looking away.

"You're going to tell me what happened to you two right now, Edward Elric!"

--End Chapter--

My original chapter notes (bold words are new):

Well, as you can see, I found some more inspiration. I figured that, if Ed leaves now, maybe I could have some things being different in Central... (or, at least one thing...)

Hope I got Winry somewhat in-character. I thought she might like Ed's arm and leg, after how she tried taking apart his watch in one episode. (--Now that I've adjusted some things, that episode wasn't far from the story, and that time is mentioned in the chapter)