AN: If you've read The Eye (the midquel one-shot), everything will make much more sense, I think.

Thank you!


Chapter 20: Different and alike

--

"Hi mom," Edward said. "It's been a while."

It was early in the morning. The sun had only just started to rise up from behind the hills of the horizon, painting the clear sky with a beautiful reddish gleam. Alfons was amazed at how far it was actually possible to see from this small hill, even if it wasn't really that high. The view showed hundreds of kilometres of houses, hills, trees and mountains, even in the farthest perspective. The morning air was a little chilly, but not cold, and he enjoyed the feeling of a fresh breeze blowing against his face.

Alfons took a deep breath and joined Edward's side where he sat on his knees in front of a gravestone. It was marked Trisha Elric and the years she had been born and had died. She had died so young, Alfons thought solemnly. Just as his own mother had.

"I'm sorry that I didn't come visit you sooner," Edward continued. "And that I'm not staying for long. But at least, I'd like you to meet someone first."

Alfons smiled softly. Edward was the least religious person he knew, but even Edward wouldn't believe that there wasn't a small chance his mother was somewhere she couldn't hear him.

Alfons kneeled beside Edward and closed his eyes and folded his hands. He could picture a good-hearted woman smiling with long, brownish hair, some shades darker than Al's. He almost felt a little nervous, not having a slightest idea of what to say. He wanted to thank her for letting Edward into the world, and that he was allowed to be with him. But that might sound stupid.

"This is Alfons," Edward said. "He's a good friend... actually, he is more than a friend to me." He paused for a second, smiling lightly. "Unless a major rainstorm appears in a few seconds, I know that you wouldn't have minded it if you still had been here."

Alfons swallowed, not actually fond of the thought of challenging fate like that. He couldn't help gazing up nervously towards the horizon again. But fortunately, the sky was still clear blue, and the sun kept rising. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. Since he wasn't entirely unreligious like Edward, the last thing he wanted was having the dead assortments of God cursing their luck. So far they had only managed to get here thanks to pure luck, and he hoped that wasn't about to change.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Elric," he whispered, eyeing her name on the stone. He wanted her to know, just in case she could hear him.

I'm watching over Edward for you. I won't let anything bad happen to him.

Edward gazed at him and crooked his head. "The sky isn't falling down on us, so I guess that means she likes you." He grinned.

Alfons' eyes flared back at him. "You shouldn't say things like that. What if it had suddenly started to rain?"

Edward laughed. "That would still not make me believe in God. Alchemists are the closest thing to God the worlds will ever have."

Alfons snorted, thinking that sounded quite arrogant. "Then teach me something godly," he challenged.

Edward gave him a wry smile at that. "Sure. We've got some time."

Alfons' eyes lit up. He hadn't actually thought that Edward would agree to it. Ever since he had first seen alchemy, he had wished he too could do something amazing like that, and even more after reading a little about it.

Edward clapped his hands and touched the ground. After some seconds he had made a white paper sheet and a simple pencil. He handed it to Alfons. "Start by drawing a circle."

Alfons had always been steady on his drawing hand, never actually skilled at it, but good enough to draw some designs and sketches of rockets of his own. While living in Munich he had had mostly twenty different sketches (quite often bad ones) and passed each one onto Edward so he could use them to make the main sketch of the product. Edward had always been incredible at making perfect sketches.

Alfons let his pencil wander over the sheet. He remembered what the array looked like, assuming he was supposed to draw the simple and primary one. He had seen it many times, on Edward's sketches, in the book he had been reading back at the house, and in his odd visions... Two circles, one big triangle following the circuits, and three smaller triangles inside which also followed the circuit.

"There," he said.

"Good," Edward replied. He picked up a handful of grass and let it fall onto the sheet, inside the array. "What would you make out of grass?"

Alfons smiled. "I would make a flower for your mother." Since he only had materials of a plant to use, in other words earth element, he had to make it into something else made of the same element. He had read that in the book he had borrowed. To create a different element, he had to mix two different elements together.

Edward nodded, smiling softly. "Just imagine the flower in your mind. But don't forget the principle. Equal exchange. The result has to be equal of the amount, or else it won't work."

Alfons nodded. He closed his eyes, and he thought of Al at the beach when he had drawn an array in the sand and dried his clothes. He could do this too.

"It might take some time before something happens, since it's your first time. If something happens, of course," Edward said, not wanting to give Alfons high hopes.

Alfons concentrated his mind around a pretty flower he once had seen in his mother's backyard in Munich many years ago. He wanted it to work. Then he touched the circle on the sheet while keeping himself focused. It shouldn't be that difficult, right? In this world alchemy was quite common, and many people could do a little alchemy at least. And if Alfons could do it, he couldn't help picturing that Edward would gain even more respect for him.

At first, nothing happened at all. And after a couple of minutes Alfons was almost sure he was wasting his time on this. Maybe he simply couldn't do it because he wasn't from this world. But Edward had still not said anything, just waiting patiently for something to happen. Perhaps alchemy was one of the few things in the world that Edward was willing to be patient with.

Alfons pictured the flower he wanted to transmute. It was blue. Then he saw the array in his mind. He had seen it in the Gate. Then he imagined the Gate. He had seen it more than once. But, he couldn't really remember when or where he had seen it. He was about to give up the whole thing, then suddenly his head exploded with energy and all kinds of images were streaming into his head. Before he knew it he was completely blinded by a strong whiteness, and he was letting out a sound that sickly reminded him of a scream. He was stunned, unable to move, and when his eyes finally managed to adjust, he looked straight at a huge black Gate. It wasn't something he just imagined this time. The doors were opening with a creaking sound and Alfons stared in shock. He had seen this Gate more than once before. Even before he came to this world.

I'm waiting for you, it said. I'm watching you.

Long black hands stretched out for him from the darkness, and he opened his mouth to scream again. If they got to him, if they took him into that place, he would never be able to return. He wanted to run, but he couldn't. He couldn't even move. As if he was completely frozen to the ground.

Alfons did the only thing he could do. He shut his eyes and screamed as loud as his lungs could manage.

Then a voice was suddenly there, trying to reach for him as he lay on his back, trembling uncontrollably. Or maybe it was because the one who yelled in order to reach out to him was also shaking his shoulders so violently that Alfons didn't know where his own trembling came into the picture. And his foot... Something was burning. He kicked his feet, trying to make the pain go away, but it didn't.

He opened his eyes wide and breathed hard. He was suddenly staring straight up into a pair of large golden eyes, which were filled with panic.

"Alfons, are you all right?! Talk to me!"

Alfons opened his mouth, still stunned of shock. "I'm... I... what happened?" he stuttered. He could barely think straight, let alone was he able to get out any coherent words. He felt as though all colours had literally drained from his face all of a sudden.

"You tell me," Edward said in a low voice, not shaking him anymore but still holding his shoulders tightly. His eyes gazed circumspectly down at him. "Did you see anything?"

Still kicking his burning right foot to the ground Alfons nodded fast. "The Gate," he said breathlessly. "It was right there. And black things. It tried to..."

Edward's eyes widened and his face paled, a short gasp slipped in between his lips. "We have to go. Quick." He stood up fast, pulling Alfons as he rose. "And you stay far away from alchemy hereafter."

Confused, Alfons literally got dragged up to his feet, and he cringed at the fiery pain at the underside of his foot. Edward started to drag him down the hill, and Alfons could only twist his head sharply to look over his shoulder towards the array. Did he transmute something? He got a glimpse of burned grass and paper at the foot of Trisha Elric's grave.

Alfons turned again, looking down while his head span. What the hell was happening to him? Had this something to do with the time he got trapped into the ruins of the explosion during the attack at Central? He had seen the Gate at that time too, and he had felt the same burning pain from the mark underneath his foot. But he had thought it was only one of his "normal" visions. Despite the fact that the mark had just showed up there from nowhere... But he had realized that hadn't been the first time he saw the Gate. When had he seen it before? Either way, he found no other solution than telling Edward.

"Edward," he wheezed. "I think something is wrong with me."

Edward simply ushered him on towards the house. "Nothing's wrong with you," he contradicted.

"But," Alfons stuttered. "I feel odd. I've seen that thing before. And my foot..."

"It'll be all right," Edward assured quickly, but somehow Alfons couldn't quite believe him.

"Stop," Alfons demanded, and made a halt. He hovered over the ground and fell to his knees. "There's something I have to show you..." He had simply not thought about it after he had been at the hospital in Central. They had gone to save Al, so it had slipped out of his mind at the time. Besides, the pain had disappeared before Edward returned to the hospital to get him, and he had thought it would pass over by itself. He hadn't wanted Edward to be bothered by it either.

But now he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Don't joke around," Edward replied sharply. "Get up, we have to go!"

Alfons quickly removed his shoe and sock on his right foot, and turned it so Edward could see it. And it was right there. The mark.

The mark was black and looked like it had been drawn with a knife, and it didn't stop shooting pain throughout his body.

Edward froze to ice by the sight of it.

"I don't know how long it's been there," Alfons said, trying to sound calmer than he really was. "But something tells me that it's been there since I came to this world. It has something to do with the Gate..."

Edward slowly bent his knees in front of him, reaching out his flesh hand towards his foot.

Something about the look in his eyes told Alfons that Edward recognized the mark clear as day, and that he already knew that it was from the Gate. The eye that was carved into the Gate's front doors.

Edward's hand was trembling lightly as he touched the wound, and his eyes immediately fell shut. Alfons cringed, wondering if what Edward's was doing actually was a good idea. His face had scrunched up as he touched it and he breathed out a little fast.

"Edward..." Alfons said nervously.

Edward abruptly retrieved his hand like he had been burned, and his eyes opened wide. "The Gate... It did this to you." Edward was staring at him like he had seen a ghost. Alfons retrieved his foot further away from Edward, not wanting him to get hurt by it too. Like it was contagious. "What does that mean?" he demanded, actually feeling like smashing his own head into a stone to get rid of his misery.

"It means..." Edward started. "If what just happened happens again, you might not get back."

Somehow Alfons had already figured that out. He looked down at the pulsing eye-mark again. "It said something in my head... I don't know when or if it was only a dream. But I just remembered something. It said that it was watching me." He shuddered.

Edward's eyes narrowed. "I know when."

"You do?"

"When we travelled through the Gate. I've been wondering how we managed to do it without an exchange." He rose slowly to his feet. "At Thule Society in Munich, my father said that the deal yet wasn't over. I think the deal will last as long as the Gates are still open."

"So... as long as the Gate exists... I'll be..." Alfons breathed in deep. He would be in danger until the Gate had its way?

"Unless we destroy both of the Gates..." Edward stated in a low voice.

Alfons' thoughts span. But the first Gate was in Munich. In the other world. How were they supposed to destroy it and get back here? It was impossible. And the other Gate was at Thule Society. Alfons thought he had already had his fair share of time spent at that place, thank you very much.

"I'll find a way," Edward said, like he was reading his mind. "First we have to remove that mark somehow."

Alfons nodded slowly. "Yeah... Somehow?" This was really a genuine curse of some sort. He guessed it couldn't be removed that easily.

Edward reached down a hand to him. "I'll ask granny. She has lots of experience with surgeries."

"S-surgeries?" Alfons repeated weakly, but accepted his hand and stood up. Even though he hated anything that related to a hospital, he guessed it just had to be done in this case. If he kept having this mark on him, the Gate would still have a certain control over him. After all, it was obviously the Gate that had made him see a part of this world's knowledge. But eventually, Alfons realized to his horror, it would kill him.

"Come on," Edward said, smiling softly, as to not worry him. "You'll be just fine."

Alfons nodded quietly and followed after him back towards the house.

--

"You know the truth now, right?"

At those words she had thought she would fall apart. "I didn't know what to think! I'm so sorry."

It had been late and both Al and Alfons had already gone to bed. Edward stood by her tool desk, and she had never seen him this disappointed before. Disappointed in her. Which made her even more afraid to tell him what else she had done...

"Without him I would never have managed to bring Al home," he said. "I wouldn't have even come to this world without him."

"I know," Winry whispered.

"I've never been this ashamed in my life," Winry muttered, thinking about her last night's conversation with Edward. "I don't know what to do."

"We owe Alfons an apology," Scheiska said silently, and Pinako nodded. The three of them were sitting by the table in the kitchen eating breakfast.

"It might be appropriate to let them know the rest of the truth as well," the old lady suggested.

"Yes, I know," Winry said, just as both Edward and Alfons came back inside. They both looked quite troubled, she thought, but they didn't say anything unusual.

Edward sat down beside Winry and served himself with food without a question. He didn't look at her in hope that she couldn't read anything of what was on his mind. Despite of what they had just found out, he was too hungry to deal with all the facts in the immediate second.

Alfons had to smile. Even after all that had happened the last couple of days, Edward was still so... like himself.

"Good morning," he greeted before he sat down, noticing the regretful look in Winry's clear blue eyes. She was watching him, and he couldn't not notice it. And Scheiska just stared shamefully down at her food.

"Is something wrong, Winry?" Alfons asked.

Edward looked up and his eyes narrowed at her. Obviously he hadn't even noticed (or didn't want to notice) that something was still bothering both of the girls, especially Winry. But Alfons knew that they had talked last night, so he considered everything to be fine now. He didn't like to dwell too much.

"There is." Winry looked down at her hands, before she stared straight at him again. "I owe you a big apology."

Alfons just smiled at her. "Edward told me everything. It's all right, Winry." He kind of understood. He didn't want to blame her for being protective of the ones she cared about.

Last night he and Edward had talked for a long time as well. And he finally got to know why Winry had acted so strange towards him, and the reason why Al had been ticked off so strongly. He hoped that could be a story they perhaps could share much later on and just laugh about.

"I'm really sorry too," Scheiska said. "We shouldn't have just come to such fast conclusions."

"There's more," Winry said fast, before anyone could shrug things off. "I wanted to warn you. I called the military."

Edward's eyes froze at her and he rose abruptly from the table, glaring at her in disbelief. The sudden movement made her jump.

"You what?!"

"Three days ago," Winry said fast, still shaking after being startled. "I wanted to talk to Mustang, but he wasn't there. I talked to a man named Carl or something."

Alfons' eyes widened, and he suddenly noticed that his hands were clutched very hard around his fork and knife.

"He said he was your new commanding officer, and... and..." Winry's eyes overflowed with tears. "I told him that I didn't think you were from Anothoya like you had said you were, and he said he was going to look into it."

Alfons' eyes narrowed pensively. Was this as bad as he had imagined? If this was all, it could've been worse, right?

But Edward obviously didn't see it that way. "I can't believe it!" He deserted his food and started walking restlessly back and forth the room. "He'll find out that Mustang covered for him. It wouldn't only put Alfons in jail, but the Colonel as well."

Okay, that was actually quite bad, Alfons thought. He didn't want to be put in jail... The military could probably find out easily that his whole identity was a setup, if they just looked into it. How naive of him to actually believe that Kiehle couldn't figure that one out.

The Colonel had never done anything but everything in his power to help him and Edward, and he didn't deserve to lose his position. Although, it had always seemed like Brigadier General Kiehle's dream was to see that man's fall from the military ranks. Alfons still wondered why.

Edward didn't waste time on questions. "We have to go," he said. "Immediately."

Scheiska was pale as a ghost and Winry looked like she was about to fall apart. "I didn't mean for anything like this to happen," she cried.

Thinking that she alone didn't deserve the blame, Alfons rose slowly and put a gentle hand on her shoulder before Edward would leave her with all the guilt. "It's okay, Winry. We know that."

She looked up at him, startled, then she rose abruptly from her seat and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, digging her nose into his shoulder. Alfons stiffened a little, feeling a little ridiculous because his first thought was that he couldn't remember the last time a girl had hugged him like that.

"Be careful," she whispered.

He hugged her back, very carefully. It actually felt quite reassuring to know that Edward's childhood friend cared and was worried for him. "We will."

Edward seemed to have slightly calmed down now, if only for a minute, and he turned to Pinako. "There's one thing I want you to look at before we go."

Pinako nodded. If she was startled by the conversation she didn't show it much. "Of course."

Edward turned to Alfons. "Show her."

Alfons released himself from Winry and removed his sock. He sat down on a chair, and held out his foot for them to see his curse.

The old woman puffed her pipe and rose from her seat to get a better look. She held out a petite but firm hand around Alfons' foot and studied the mark. "Does this have something to do with alchemy?"

"We need to have it removed. Quickly," Edward added, not confirming nor denying her question. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"You know I'm not an alchemist, but this seems to be a serious and unusual wound," Pinako said. "But sure I know of a way that will do the trick."

Alfons gave her a hopeful look.

"Just bring me a saw," Pinako said. "And then I'll prepare an automail for you."

Alfons gawked at her, not sure that he had even heard right. Even Winry looked startled at that, not to mention Scheiska who looked like she was about to pass out.

"Are you mad?" Edward bellowed. "There's no way I'll let him go through something like that. And I said quickly. We have to leave now."

Pinako shrugged. "The wound isn't like anything I've ever seen before. There's nothing else I can do." She let go of his foot and Alfons pulled his sock back on a little shakily.

"Thanks anyway," Edward muttered. "Let's go."

"What's going on?" a new voice asked, sounding puzzled from behind them.

Alfons turned around and saw Al standing in the doorway, still in his pyjamas and his hair in a messy stack on top of his head. He lifted his arm to wipe some of the drowsiness away from his eyes.

Edward lowered his head a little, breathing in deep and not meeting his brother's eyes. "We're leaving now, Al."

Al's eyes lit up. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He turned to run upstairs again. "I'll be right back, I just need to dress and--"

"No," Edward said, and Al stopped in his tracks.

Alfons gave Edward a questioning look, but Edward lifted his gaze towards his brother, who turned around slowly and looked bewildered at him.

"You're not coming," Edward said firmly. "I want you to send your resignation to the military and stay right here."

Alphonse stepped forward quickly, his bronze eyes filled with disappointment and confusion. "What do you mean, Nii-san? You said..."

"I know," Edward replied, still not showing any signs of regret. "I said that I wanted you to come, but I have changed my mind. You'll be safer here."

Shocked and hurt, Al exploded. "YOU LIED TO ME! You said you couldn't choose between us, but now you just did! I don't want to be safe, I want to stay with you!"

His outburst made Winry abruptly rise from her chair. She was about to step forward to him, but Alfons gently held her arm. This was mainly Edward's responsibility to sort out and explain. And he figured that Edward probably had a good explanation. He usually had one, at least.

Edward stepped up to his little brother, who now glared at him in a combination of anger and hurt. Edward received a couple of punches at his chest before he caught Al's arms in a tight hold, keeping him still.

"Just listen," Edward said carefully. "I want to be with you too, but we need to take care of a couple of things first."

Al shook his head violently. He couldn't just accept something like this, could he? Edward wanted to travel with Alfons Heiderich and not him. It was now things actually made a difference, because he knew Edward was in trouble with the military and they could be caught at any time. He knew Edward could defend himself, but Al wanted to be with him, to protect him as well. He was more capable of that than Alfons! If something happened, what could someone like Alfons possibly do?

"You'll wait here, and when we have found a safe place, I'll come back and get you," Edward continued. "Do you understand?"

Al's large eyes were watering as he stilled in Edward's grip. The bright gold eyes he was staring straight into were determined and set. He knew he couldn't change Edward's mind, even if he didn't approve of it at all. Why was he always the one left behind? Why did he always have to wait? He looked away from his brother then, feeling too angry to look at him. Still, he couldn't bring himself to have another outburst right now. Edward would never listen to him anyway. "I understand," he muttered.

"I'm sorry," Edward said. "It's my fault. I really want to bring you along. Just... not yet."

He probably needed time alone with Alfons first... Still, Al was left wondering what they were going to do. "Where are you going?" he asked, confusion written in his voice. "What things were you talking about that you have to take care of?" At least his brother owed him an explanation.

Edward released him slowly. "I'll tell you later, okay?"

Al sighed. "When?"

Edward let a flesh hand through Al's messy bronze hair, giving him a soft smile. "As soon as I can. Just remember that I will come back for you. I promise."

Al smiled back weakly, even if it was ever so hard to do it. "I guess."

Edward nodded pleased. "Then we can start thinking about your future."

It all sounded fine when Edward was saying it. Even if Al wasn't at all pleased with the circumstances, he couldn't argue either. He sniffled a little and buried his face into Edward's shoulder. He relaxed a little as he felt his older brother's arms wrap around him and just held him close. Protectively.

"I just don't want anything bad happen to you again," Edward whispered, so only he could hear.

"I know," Al replied in a low voice. "I know, Nii-san."

--

As they were ready to leave, Winry, Scheiska, Pinako, Al and Den stood on the stairs outside the door to greet them off. Winry hugged him for a long time, and Alfons almost felt his own cheeks getting awkwardly warm.

"Again, I'm truly sorry for my behaviour," she said to him. "I'll make it up to you sometime."

Alfons let go of her and smiled. "There's no need."

Al stood in front of Edward, the look in his eyes obviously showing that he hadn't entirely forgiven him yet, but still he seemed to have accepted the situation. "Come back soon, Nii-san," he said.

"I will," Edward promised. "Again, I'm sorry for this, Al, but it's very important."

Al nodded slowly. "I understand."

Winry stepped up to Edward and hugged him as well. "Don't do anything stupid, okay?" she said, her voice sounding a little fractured. "Come back this time."

"Of course I will," Edward said softly.

Al looked a little uncomfortable as he was left beside Alfons, and he stared up at him, his eyes telling Alfons that he was not quite sure how to place his words towards him. Alfons' mind suddenly started to rewind back to late last night when he awoke in the guestroom. Everyone else had been asleep except for one other person.

"Heiderich-san..." a low voice said, so low that it was almost just a whisper.

Still he had heard it. Alfons had only been half awake until then, and he sat up abruptly in his bed, staring puzzled at the small boy who was surprisingly sitting on his bedside. Alfons automatically looked around for Edward, but he couldn't see him anywhere. It seemed like the little brother had entered his room on his own accord.

"Alphonse... what are you doing here?" Alfons asked curiously, still not quite familiar with calling someone by his own name. Edward had told him earlier that night that he had made it up with his brother, and Alfons had been relieved to hear that. The last thing he wanted was to come between the brothers. They already had their special bond, and Alfons wouldn't want anything to weaken it. At least not because of him. But seeing the look in Al's face now, it suggested that everything was far from okay.

"I came here because... I wanted to talk to you about something," Al said. He knitted his fingers in his lap, and had an unreadable look in his boyish features. "Do you mind?"

"No, not at all," Alfons replied. Whatever this was all about, anytime could be as good as another. He hadn't been able to sleep very well anyway.

"Listen... I know I shouldn't have blamed you because of my brother's choice," Al started. "But because of you, he almost didn't come back."

Alfons scowled a little, unsure where this conversation was heading. Al seemed both remorseful and despiteful at the same time. It was a little confusing.

Did Al have something against him?

"I was wondering if you knew about him and Mustang," Al continued. "The Colonel actually cared a lot about Nii-san. I think he even loved him... I could feel it by just watching him talk about my brother. And then Nii-san returned with you. I can actually imagine how much that must have hurt."

"Alphonse... I--" Alfons started, not really knowing exactly what to say. Al sounded like he was blaming him for literally stealing Edward from everyone. He scowled. Unintentionally, maybe he had...

"I knew about them, eventually," he said. "I found out. Edward didn't tell me right away. And you're right. It must've been hard for Mustang. But he'll get over it, I'm sure. Instead of turning me in when he had the chance, he helped me."

He just wondered if Al would ever get over it all the same.

"Luckily for you, Roy's a good person," Al said.

Alfons gave the boy a long look, wondering why Al had to still keep fighting against him regardless that he had talked with Edward about everything. Edward had said Al had been willing to accept their relationship. But it didn't seem like that to him, at least not now. Alfons wondered if Al was still strongly affected by the awful things he had experienced while being a prisoner at Thule Society. Maybe he just didn't feel like he had gotten his brother back the way he had wished he would. Because of Alfons, Al had believed that Edward hadn't cared as much about him.

Alfons had realized, even if Edward and Al had talked and Edward was convinced that everything was okay, Alfons still had far to go to win Al's trust. Like Edward, Al trusted the Colonel with all his heart. It probably didn't matter to him that the Colonel had loved his brother, despite being a man, and not to mention that he was much older than Edward.

It was because the Colonel was strong. And Alfons wasn't...

He kept his voice as friendly as he could, even if he had been tempted to shake the little brother for some seconds. "I love your brother, Alphonse," he said. "But I'm not going to take him away from you. I simply want to protect him from the military. Any encounter with anyone from the military, even Colonel Mustang, will probably be very bad and you know why."

Al's eyes narrowed sceptically at him. "Mustang would help him."

Alfons nodded. "I know. But even if he wants to help us, he has orders he's obligated to follow."

Al lowered his gaze, playing with the sleeves of his pyjama. "Still, you tried to keep Nii-san away in the other world. It was you who convinced him that he wanted to stay there, wasn't it?"

"No," Alfons said, slightly taken aback by the accusation. "I would never do something like that. Actually, I tried to make him go."

Al lifted his gaze slowly at him again. His eyes had slightly widened in surprise. "You did?"

Alfons nodded. "I strapped him to a rocket, and I was about to send him away. But then the homunculus Envy showed up and stopped me. He knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself in this world."

Al took a deep breath and looked away. "So... that's how it is."

Alfons nodded again. "But believe me. There was hardly a day where he didn't mention you. He talked about you all the time. He was always thinking about you." He smiled softly.

Al shook his head and shut his eyes tightly. "He still would have preferred to have stayed with you instead of coming back." His voice was increasing in volume and sounded angry and sad all at once. It was almost like he had decided to be angry either way. He wanted to be angry at someone.

"Alphonse," Alfons said, feeling concerned. He thought the brothers had talked about this already... "Just drop this and be happy that your brother was able to return safely at all."

At this Al was silent. Maybe he finally was able to knock some sense into him.

"Don't you know how dangerous it is to cross between the two worlds?" Alfons continued questioningly.

Al nodded slowly. "Yes..." Then he changed subject completely all of a sudden. "Seeing you two... like that... It freaked me out." Al's cheeks had turned slightly darker in the dim light.

Feeling a little awkward, Alfons shrugged. "It's... natural," he tried.

"No, it's not," Al said and rose from the bed, trying to hide his blush. "I don't like it, but I will accept it as long as Nii-san is happy." He turned to leave.

Alfons understood the unsaid warning clear as glass. If Edward became unhappy for some reason, the fault would be his and Al wouldn't forgive him.

"Wait," Alfons said in a low voice. "You feel awkward because I look like you, don't you? Or maybe even threatened? Like I'm replacing you?"

Al didn't reply. But he didn't look at him either, and Alfons figured that was a yes.

"I probably would've felt the same way as you. But you know, Edward doesn't care about details like that. We both have our different places in Edward's heart, but he cares about us both on equal terms." He smiled weakly. "At least I hope he does. Because if not, I think he would've chosen you."

Al turned slowly, shaking his head. "It's not our decision to make, is it?"

Keeping his weak smile, Alfons nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that."

Al looked down to the floor, his eyes seemingly attracted to his own feet. "I'm sorry that I was convinced that you were a homunculus," he said. "But I thought I had found a reason to prevent you from taking my place."

Alfons sighed. "I'm not taking your place, Alphonse." He paused, and there was a long silence between them. Then he said: "Can't we both be different and alike?"

Since Al didn't seem to be much as talkative like he had been last night, Alfons reached him a hand instead, smiling an uncertain but warm smile. "See you again soon, Alphonse."

Al nodded. "Yeah..." He reached his own hand back. "You can..." He looked away a little before continuing. "Call me Al, if you want." He muttered and looked away. "Everyone else does."

Alfons' heart grew warm as he heard those words. Despite it all, maybe he actually had won a little bit of Al's trust after all. Al had made a warning, but he still didn't deny him or disrespect him. And Edward's choices weren't his fault.

He thought that he probably would've felt the same way Al had if their roles had been flipped. He knew Al loved Edward, even if it was a different kind of love, it was still just as strong as Alfons' love.

Alfons had also realized that he probably would've felt threatened as well if someone who looked just like him had suddenly dropped into their lives and made things different than it had been before. Especially since the "before" was something that he had missed.

Just like Al probably missed that time he was journeying with his brother every day, years ago, – simply those two alone, Alfons missed the time he and Edward had spent living in Munich. Now both Al and Alfons had to give up on their 'befores', because things had become completely different. However, that didn't mean that they couldn't start anew, and they both would accept it. They were alike, after all. Not only on the outside, but also on the inside, and on the top of that they were still not the same. They were both different and alike.

"Be safe on your trip, boys," Pinako said, pausing from her pipe-puffing. "We'll be waiting right here for your return."

Edward nodded and smiled. "Thanks for everything, granny."

--

The pain had eased a bit, but Alfons could still slightly feel the mark of the eye biting leisurely at his foot. They were walking towards the Rizembool train station, and could already spot it at the bottom of the hill. They had only brought two things with them on their new journey. All the money they had gotten from Mustang, and the gun.

"Why didn't you bring Al along?" Alfons asked.

Edward shook his head. "At some point I have to destroy the Gate in this world, and I won't bring him anywhere near that place again."

Alfons gulped sharply. "Are you actually planning to go back? To Thule Society?"

Edward didn't reply at once, just staring straight forward. "Yes. After I've found a way to remove that mark from you."

"How are you going to do that? According to Pinako the only way seemed to be to cut my entire foot off." Alfons shuddered at the thought of that. But he guessed he couldn't complain, since Edward had in fact had both his arm and leg ripped from his body at an age of eleven.

"I will not cut off your foot," Edward said, laughing of the ridiculousness of the thought.

"Well, that's a relief," Alfons muttered, not considering that thought as funny or in general worthy of humour.

"I thought about trying alchemy though," Edward continued thoughtfully. "In the eastern countries alchemy is often used for healing wounds if it's not something too serious. But that would be a little risky, considering the way you reacted to direct contact with alchemy."

Alfons nodded. "I'll never be able to transmute something, will I?"

"Hell no," Edward confirmed.

Alfons felt a little disappointed. That amazing power could never belong to him, but that was probably not the worst unattainable thing.

"Besides," Edward continued, "maybe it won't disappear before we've gotten rid of all the Gates in the first place."

"All of them?" Alfons repeated. "The one in Munich is a little out of reach, isn't it?" he pointed out.

"I know," Edward said pensively. "But I've been thinking out a theory."

Alfons wasn't surprised. Edward always had a possible explanation for the most bizarre phenomena.

"The end of the Gate from Munich appeared in Lior before, and by connecting to that end I might have a chance to destroy the Gate in Munich from this side."

"That sounds dangerous," Alfons noted, feeling suddenly a little shaken up. He had said that line before, obviously because all too often Edward's methods of doing things were the dangerous ones.

"Yes, but do you have any other ideas?" Edward asked rhetorically. "We'll head towards Lior first, and then we might be able to fix this mess, one step at a time."

Alfons nodded. "Yes, I know. You know I agree anyway, no matter how crazy it is. I'm just..." He looked for a fitting word. "Worried..."

"You always are," Edward smiled.

Alfons snorted. With good reasons...

They arrived at the train station the moment after, and Alfons noted Edward's hawk eyes scanning the entire area. They couldn't be too careful, after all.

The station wasn't very crowded, but there were enough people to mingle in between without being too noticeable.

"I guess our first destination will be Lior then," Alfons concurred.

"That's right," Edward said. "I'll go buy us tickets." He lowered his voice as he continued. "If you see anyone you think you recognize or someone suspicious, don't hesitate to find me. The military could still be around, dressed as civilians."

Alfons nodded. "I understand."

He stood outside the station house while Edward went in to buy them train tickets, and held a guarding look around the place. He studied each face of every person that passed him by, but he could in fact not recognize any of their faces. But that didn't mean that any of them weren't watching him. It was rather odd that the military hadn't invaded Rizembool entirely yet. But he was just glad they hadn't. He had taken his precautions though, in case something happened. They still had the gun Edward had stolen from Ackman at Thule Society, and he was carrying it safely hidden inside his jacket. He had no idea if he would have to use it again, and he really hoped he wouldn't. But as said, they couldn't be too careful.

Edward came back shortly after, and together they waited for the train to arrive. Luckily they just had to wait for about ten minutes.

Edward handed him a ticket. "The faster we're out of here the better."

Alfons agreed. His paranoia had once again started to get a hold of him. He didn't want to listen to it.

They heard the loud chime of a train pipe in the distance, and not long after the black train arrived at the platform. Steam shot out of the locomotive and people were streaming out the doors of the small cabins.

When most of the people had gotten themselves out, Edward and Alfons moved forwards and jumped in one of the doors. Alfons was actually glad to finally be on the train again. It was quite relaxing to travel this way. Much better (and safer) than flying.

They found a four-seater with the seats across from each other far back in the train like last time, where they picked one window-seat each. There weren't many people in the cabin, so it was pretty unlikely that anyone would choose to sit with them.

"How far is it to Lior?" Alfons asked.

"More or less four hours, I think," Edward said. "But we don't have to switch trains at least," he added. "There's two trains leaving from Rizembool at different times of the day, and this one doesn't go to Central first. It's the safest and fastest way to get to Lior."

"I see," Alfons replied.

The train started to move, and the conductor went through the train to see everyone's tickets.

Five hours was quite a lot of dead time, Alfons thought. He hadn't gotten much sleep that night, so he guessed the best thing he could do was to make up for that now.

"I'm going to rest my eyes for a while," he said, sinking down in his seat and closed his eyes.

"Do that," Edward said. "I'll wake you when we're there."

"Alright." The voice of the youngest blond was already drowsy.

Edward smiled at him and unnoticeably caressed his flesh hand over his knee. Alfons smiled as he felt the small touch of affection, and fell into a light sleep, letting his head rest back towards the back of his seat. Sometimes the train shook a little, but it didn't bother him much. Opposite of him Edward sat and gazed dreamily out the window, until he too rested his eyes while leaning his head lazily against his arm on the windowsill.

A couple of hours passed, and Alfons was awaken by the familiar chime of the train pipe as the train left a station. He had just time to read the sign on the platform before it disappeared. East City, it said.

At least they were on the right way. Lior was on the east side of Amestris, after all.

Alfons yawned deeply, and stretched as far as he could in his seat. But it wasn't all that comfortable considering his long legs. He looked up front of him and spotted the older blond who peacefully rested against the edge of the window.

He smiled, and decided that Edward would be okay by himself for a short while. He wanted to stretch his legs a little, and he needed to use the bathroom.

Alfons rose from his seat, and his knees gave out a grateful sound of being stretched out. He went past rows with passengers who were conversing keenly or reading the newspaper. The newspaper part kind of troubled him a little, and he automatically cringed slightly as people turned towards him. He cursed his own paranoia. After all, this town didn't have the same newspaper as Hugel, so these people probably hadn't necessarily seen the 'wanted sign'. Although, it could still be possible that the military had published their picture in every single newspaper in the entire country. But he did rather not want to think too much about it.

He continued forward until he reached the back of the next cabin connected to the one he and Edward had been sitting in. There were no seats here, rather a room where people could put their luggage and a small bathroom beside the storing shelves. As he looked up, his eyes widened as he saw a very familiar person standing there by one of the shelves. Alfons froze to his spot, but still very curious of why he was there, even though he somehow knew.

Alphonse Elric was dressed in his old clothes again, including his red coat, and his hair was put back up in a ponytail.

"Al..." Alfons managed.

Abruptly Al stepped forward and grabbed Alfons' arm hard and dragged him right into the bathroom. Alfons followed without a question, thinking that a good explanation had to come right away anyway.

Al hurriedly locked the door behind them and Alfons almost had to stand uncomfortably close to the smaller boy. He rested a little awkwardly at the wall of the small place they were standing in. There was barely room for any of them moving.

"What are you doing here, Al?" he asked, sounding almost a little stringent. Like it was his little brother that had disobediently followed them. Either way, he knew Edward wouldn't like this.

Al was leant a little breathlessly against the door. "I'm sorry!" he blurted, but made sure to keep his voice in a whisper. He looked troubled by the fact that Alfons had noticed him and mumbled some curses to himself. "I couldn't just sit there," he then said. "Please, don't tell Nii-san." Before Alfons could answer to that, the bronze-haired boy continued. "Besides, I needed to warn you somehow. The military is on the train."

Alfons gulped, abruptly losing track of his planned scolding-speech. "What?"

Al nodded fast. "I recognized a man. He's disguised as a civilian. I'm sure he's from the Brigadier General's unit."

Alfons' head dropped back against the wall. He didn't think that he could've received any worse news; except that Edward would be furious when he found out that his little brother had tagged along.