A/N: Here we are with the next chapter! Izumii will show up soon and now we see more of young Allen with Cross. Seeing as it's been a while since I last updated, nearly half a year, I apologize. I need to read more DGM, my knowledge only spans as far as volume 9+.

And Allen did not automatically accept his dreams, nor his memories. This chapter shows that he is more complex than meets the eye. It also takes place in the past for the beginning half and then later back in the present. Sorry for the confusion.

Chapter 5 Putting the pieces back together

Allen woke with a start, on his bed. He noticed his master was gone, and wondered where he was, until he remembered-oh, he was probably out gambling somewhere again, and once again, he'd left the room a mess for Allen to pick up.

He sighed, scratching his white hair with his good hand before sitting up. "Izumi would kick his ass." He muttered. Who was Izumi again?

He was just now getting accustomed to the idea that he had memories from another life. It was odd, but he was getting used to it. To be honest, it always explained why he'd felt so out of place, compared to other people.

He'd noticed Cross giving him an odd look when he'd asked about alchemy before. Apparently, alchemists and exorcists didn't interact with each other. Allen found himself wondering what an alchemist was, or why that term seemed so familiar to him, but, with these memories coming back to him, he had to wince at how bleak and depressing they were, from what he could tell.

He saw a blond boy with his brother and their close bond with each other. Hell, he'd dreamed about a suit of armor screaming his name and then woken up with tears running down his face, with no idea why. He didn't even have a brother.

Why should memories of a past life bother him?

Allen just sighed before yawning and stretching, as he walked over to his mirror and stared at his reflection.

Apparently, he had been short in his past life, and that was still the same, though he was a bit taller, but not by much.

He guessed the biggest change of all was to his arm, which before had been sheer metal and was now a living weapon. He supposed it made sense as to why he felt so natural and accustomed about having such a thing.

Though the only thing that was weird is that he didn't have a metal leg to go with it. At first, he was disbelieving of the idea of there being such technology. Apparently, exorcists had not developed that technology yet.

He stared at his eyes in the mirror. Apparently, they had been gold in a past life, and now they were blue-grey, the same color as his old brother's, apparently. He would have liked if he could have the same eye color as his past life, oh well.

His hair was still in the same hairstyle as it had always been, always messy, always growing, but there were times where he missed how he used to have a ponytail. Oh well. The only thing that had been strange was how his hair was now white. He felt like an old man.

And to be honest, having had memories of another life, he could safely say he felt like an old man. I mean, sure, he still dealt with dead people who were reanimated corpses. In his other life, he had experienced dead people, but now they were much worse. At least the homunculi hadn't been using human souls for their nefarious purposes.

He'd seen the worst of humanity. Edward Elric was a pessimist. An utter pessimist. And it was ironic that Allen's viewpoint was so different from how it had been before. In spite of everything that had happened to him, he remained positive, and he'd found how refreshing that view was for him.

It made things much easier to deal with, rather than just sulking.

If he had to say one thing about his past life, it was that he had been...a jerk. A major jerk.

He just had to look back at some of his actions, and facepalm.

Okay, did he really believe he was someone in a past life? Well, seeing as how he had such vivid memories, and these feelings felt real, he had to concede that yes, it was real.

But would anyone believe him, probably not?

After all, if it stood to reason that he was logical in a past life, he'd probably be logical in this life, too. However, the one way in that he differed from his other self was definitely his willingness to believe in people-just in general, how he treated people now. He found that when he was nice to people, they tended to have a better perception of you.

If people saw you as a nice person, they would trust you, and uh, Allen sometimes found that easy to manipulate. He looked like an innocent kid, he could get away with stuff. But, truth be told, he was glad he'd figured that out now, because it always made sense with how he was so curious about the world, always asking questions, and always being strangely perceptive for his age.

Then he chuckled as he recalled how he'd pleaded for Mana to help him find his brother that he knew he had, and they had to go looking for him.

Mana had just told him that he had no brother.

"Mana, can we go find my brother?" Little Allen asked.

Mana stared at him in confusion. "You don't have a brother, Allen."

"Yeah, I do. He's somewhere else, we have to find him!"

"Is your brother an imaginary friend?" Mana said, a smile coming on his face.

Allen frowned. "Well, I guess so. I have dreams about a brother, but I can't find him anywhere."

"Maybe this brother is..like your conscience? Do you ever hear a voice in your head?"

Allen nodded.

"Your conscience is like your guide."

"So it's like an older brother?" Allen said excitedly.

"You could say that." Mana said approvingly.

He'd always been an odd child, he supposed. But now what was he supposd to do with all this knowledge now that he knew about it?

Allen just frowned.

"The more I think about it, the more of a headache I get." He complained. "It's a lot better if I just relax."

He frowned as he flopped back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

What would the others' reactions even be to this?

Apparently, the person who was his past brother would not even believe him, since Edward had been mean and blunt. He didn't think Alphonse could believe that his brother could turn over a new leaf and start being nice.

The girl who threw wrenches at people...Allen had to shudder, apparently wouldn't believe him.

It would be best, he decided, to keep this in the past where it belonged and just concentrate on the here and now.

All of that changed, however, when Cross had discovered that Allen had a sudden fear of dogs, especially whenever they came up to him and started sniffing him, suddenly he'd heard a voice in his head say, play with me. Suddenly, dogs were terrifying, he didn't know why.

And that annoyed him.

He drifted back off to sleep, and as he did, he found himself being approached by the same blond kid he'd seen before.

Allen looked up at him.

"So you're the new me, huh?" The blond said, looking him up and down, "Can't say I'm impressed, but can't say I'm disappointed, either."

"What do you mean?" Allen said, confused.

"Well, you haven't remembered everything yet, right?" The boy asked, "But I'm glad you're accepting it at least-you seem to be pretty open-minded. A bit too nice."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with being nice." Allen muttered.

"And you're still sarcastic, got a lot of brains, though that's to be expected, you are me. Still short, I take it? Not even a reincarnation could make me taller, still it seems like you are a lot taller than me by a couple inches. How tall are you?"

"5'6." Allen said simply.

Ed jumped back. "Whoa, you did get a bit taller than me, but only by six inches."

"You seem to have a Napoleon complex," Allen retorted.

"Oh shut up," Ed said, "I mean, you're like me, but in other ways, you're different."

"Are you even gonna let me get a word in?" Allen muttered, "I don't really know how I should feel about all of them, because they're your friends, not mine."

Edward looked at him. "Well, in a way, you're right, but those feelings are partially yours as well, because you are me. We're in this together, after all. Still, I must say I was pretty disappointed when I saw you do that stuff to your dad figure."

"I should have known better." Allen muttered.

"Well, sometimes those things happen." Ed pointed out, "And you were just a child with no distinct memories of it. So you can't be blamed. But sometimes you've gotta be harsh."

"I don't like being harsh." Allen replied, "It does no good. The world needs more kindness."

"There are those out there who aren't kind." Ed said, "What will you do if you meet those people?"

"Fight, I guess." Allen said.

"Take care of my brother for me, will you? I'm not sure how he's doing without me, but I know that he needs me." Ed said softly.

"I really don't know how to feel about all of this," Allen admitted, looking from his arm to Edward. "Sometimes, I wish I could just-"

"Forget? Well, it's better to remember than to forget. I mean, you've got a purpose, a thing you have to do, right? That arm of yours is supposed to help you protect people, right?" Ed pointed to his innocence.

Allen nodded. "Right."

"So then, you should do just that and don't sweat the details. Everything should be fine." Ed said encouragingly.

Allen smiled. "You know, you're not a bad guy, despite being so short." He teased.

"Who are you calling-oh, wait, I shouldn't be picking a fight with myself." Ed said.

"Got the temper, all right." Allen said, hesitating before asking his next question, "What were your parents like?"

So Ed started telling him about his parents and his life.

"What about your parents?" Ed asked curiously, eying his other self as he fidgeted slightly. It was like his other self had taken on Alphonse's kindness and shyness. It was just, well...weird to see his reincarnation be so quiet and shy. Ed was nothing close to that, Ed was pretty outgoing.

"They abandoned me for having this arm." He muttered, not meeting his gaze.

"Man, what dicks!" Ed snapped, "I hate parents that just abandon their kids like that, it's stupid!"

Allen jumped.

"Sorry, did I scare you? And I really can't stand the fact that your master leaves you alone like this all the time and beats you up? Seriously, what an asshole, even Colonel Bastard wasn't this bad!"

Allen winced at the use of the curse words before asking, "And Colonel Bastard is?"

"Oh, you haven't remembered him yet. Oh, well. You can remember it on your own, right?"

"I suppose so," Allen stammered.

"Have more confidence in yourself. You can do it if you just try. By the way, I do find it ironic that a version of me would be praying to God."

"God is real," Allen said.

Edward made a noise akin to that of a laugh mixed with a cough. "Oh, all right, then, you believe what you want. Take care."

And suddenly, Allen was alone again, realizing he had been dreaming.

He frowned at the mess that awaited him.

"I suppose I have no choice but to clean this up." He said.

The first thought Allen had had upon meeting Yu Kanda was, man, this dude's like my old self.

Hotheaded, impetuous, arrogant, a jerk, he could easily see why people hadn't liked him at first or thought of him as a horrible person, because while Ed had cared for people, he wasn't very good at communicating and was an honest to god cynic and really was too blunt.

"Beansprout, you work too hard." Kanda said to him one day, "It's like you're overcompensating for something, it's like there's something you're trying to hide."

Allen turned back to face him with a mysterious smile on his face. "What would you do if I was?"

Yu Kanda blinked. "It's not like you to be so secretive. You should try to trust in your team mates."

"You're right, of course." Allen said.

"Quit smiling like that, beansprout. It's creepy."

"Jerk!" Allen snapped.

"There you go again with your temper." Kanda growled.

Allen just smiled and waved goodbye sarcastically.

"What a jerk," Allen muttered. Still, he continued to smile.

If it pissed Kanda off, then good.

The guy's attitude could use some adjusting, that was for sure.

Being nice had its advantages as well. His peers respected him and even Road had become a little nicer to him.

Road was bored as she licked her lollipop. There was no sign of that white-haired kid she liked playing around with so much.

"I'm bored," She voiced to Tyki, who sighed.

"I have a delicious piece of information. I heard that annoying exorcist we follow has a connection with a famous alchemist who is now missing."

The Millennium Earl looked startled. "Really?"

"Yes," Tyki said, "It's quite interesting when you think about it."

"That sounds like a rumor. Alchemists and exorcists don't have anything to do with each other. Pah, I'll believe it when I see it." The Earl said, shifting in his chair.

"All right, then." Tyki said.

"Ooh, an alchemist, huh? I'll have to test these alchemists to mess with them, and maybe that alchemist will appear. And I'll get to see cute little Allen again."

She didn't care.

Alchemist or not, exorcist or not, Allen was going to be hers.

"Allen..."

"Brother..."

"Brother!"

Blue eyes flew open as Allen found himself staring into the face of the metal suit of armor.

"Oh, Alphonse-san," He muttered, "How was your sleep?"

"I don't sleep," Al explained, "I just enter a state of hibernation, in a sense. You were muttering stuff in your sleep. Are you all right, brother?"

"I'm just fine!" Allen chirped, but Alphonse picked him up.

"Hey, put me down!"

"You're acting stupid. I know you better than anyone, even if you are someone else now. I mean, we're still brothers even if we're not blood-related anymore, right?"

"Uh, yeah, now please put me down. I've worked out a lot, so I'm tired."

"Oh, sorry," Al said, putting him down and stepping away, a blush on his suit. "You're just so different now, you know."

"I'm still the same person, just a bit different. I realized that being nice helps, and people respond better to you if you're optimistic and kind."

"Edward was always really hard on himself and cynical. It's good to see that you're trying to care for yourself, but don't hide things from those around you. You're doing that same thing again."

"I know," Allen muttered.

"Running away from things."

"I know."

"And that's not right by itself!"

"I know, you don't have to remind me. Just like usual, brother is the harshest critic!" He whined.

"Brothers are supposed to be like that." Alphonse laughed.

"Yo, Full Metal, how was your sleep?" Mustang said, apparently having gotten there just now.

"Just fine." Allen said.

Lenalee and Lavi were already awake.

"There you are, Allen-kun!" Lenalee said, coming over and hugging him.

"Oh, thanks, Lenalee. I'm glad you guys waited for me." Allen said.

"Somehow, it's creepy seeing him smile." Mustang snarked.

"Did you say something, Mustang-san?" Allen said, flashing him a smile.

Mustang had to resist the urge to shudder.

When the hell did the kid become so creepy? It must be some intimidation tactic.

Something about the kid now was...wrong, somehow. Warped, even. What had the kid gone through to make him such a survivor? What horrors had he undergone, enough to change his whole personality and make him so unnaturally nice? Knowing him, he must be doing it as a survival tactic or some kind of mask. This was Edward he was talking about, dammit and the fact that he couldn't read the kid like he used to ticked him off.

It was just frustrating.

"Were you worried about me?" Allen said, looking up at him with sparkles surrounding him. It was a terrifying sight. Why did the kid look so goddamned innocent now? Edward had never tried to act innocent for one second. It was like looking at a totally different person-well, he sort of was, but Mustang kind of missed the old Edward. Not this terrifyingly nice one.

The day Edward used polite honorifics for him was the day the world ended.

"Just worried that you wouldn't do your job, kid." Mustang said.

"You don't control me anymore." Allen said smugly.

"He has a point, you know." Lavi said, "Exorcists don't bow to alchemists."

"But we have to get along, that's what Niisan said to do!" Lenalee scolded.

Lavi sighed. "Here I was expecting I could get some beautiful women to go out with me. Say, what about that chick who threw stuff at you, Allen?"

"I think she went back home." Allen said.

"Yes, she did. I convinced her it wasn't safe for her here." Alphonse explained. "But, uh, there's bad news."

"Um, what's that?" Allen asked, tilting his head.

"Teacher somehow knows."

"That person?" Allen said, paling slightly. "Oh, gosh."

"You're kidding me, right?" Izumi said, dropping her plate on the ground and staring at Winry. "Edward is alive?"

"Well, uh," Winry muttered, "He's been reborn, as hard as that is to believe, he's still the same, but uh, different like uh..."

"What is he doing? Where is he?" Izumi demanded.

"Um, right now, he's busy preparing for something." Winry confessed.

"I must see him at once, but I suppose I'll give him space for now. I mean, if Alphonse is with him, then he must be fine."

"And also, he's an exorcist now."

Izumi nearly choked on her food. "What? Alchemists and exorcists don't get along!"

"But he was getting along fine with them. Even if he's changed on the outside, he's still the same Ed we know on the inside, right?"

"Do you still love him?" Izumi asked.

Winry blushed. "Of course. He's just so different now that he's like a different person. He's a lot nicer than he used to be. Not quite sure why, but I suppose living a different life and stuff made him feel like he had to be."

"A nice Edward? Never imagined I'd see the day." Izumi snarked.

"People change," Said her husband, "I'm looking forward to seeing if he's gotten taller."

"He's still short, but he's gotten taller by a few inches!" Winry replied. "He still doesn't like milk, and also he's not a blond."

Izumi stared at her in surprise. "You're kidding, right?"

When Winry shook her head no, she sighed.

"Still, a nice Edward, I wonder what his life is like."

"I didn't really ask." Winry said, "Al told me to go home as soon as possible, just for my safety, but it still kinda annoys me a little that I couldn't help."

"Brother, do you still love Winry?" Al asked.

"Of course I do. But, she's like my friend to me. And I can't let her get involved in this fight, it's too difficult for her."

"Aha, I see, you like that girl, right?" Al said before gesturing to Lenalee.

"Ack, it's not like that!" Allen sputtered, his face red.

"Allen-kun, is something wrong?" Lenalee asked.

"I sense love in the air. Allen-kun's becoming a man." Lavi chirped.

"What are you talking about? It's not like that at all, we're just good friends!" But her face was red as well.

"I sense Full Metal has a girlfriend." Mustang teased.

"Be quiet, Mustang-san." Allen said, radiating a terrifying aura like always.

"Why does everyone pick on me?" Roy moaned.

"Because you can be a jerk." Alphonse admitted.

"Riza?"

"I'm not even taking sides. But Allen, you need to learn to be nicer. You need to trust in us. I know that you're not fine."

"I am fine!" Allen chirped.

"Look, when you died, we were all very sad, and now that you've found us, you're not willing to tell us anything. Don't you know how that makes us feel?"

Allen felt a pang of guilt hit him. "Um, probably pretty bad." Allen muttered.

"Yes, so we want you to let us in like you used to. Can you do that?" Riza begged.

"I can try," Allen said.

"That's all I needed to know." Riza said cheerfully, "By the way, the dog is doing well."

"You have a dog?" Allen said, shaking.

"So Mister Walker does have a fear." Mustang teased.

"Don't you dare, Colonel!" Alphonse cried, "Brother, why do you hate dogs?"

"I don't know, I just don't like them."

"Oh, it's from that." Alphonse said, his face suddenly darkening.

"From what?" Allen asked.

"You don't remember? Seriously? About Nin-"

"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean." Allen said sincerely.

"Brother, could it be that you don't remember absolutely everything?" Al said, looking at him in shock.

"Well, uh, I don't know, I just...never liked dogs. Is that a problem?" Allen asked.

"No, it's nothing. Never mind." Alphonse said.

Allen frowned. Was his brother keeping things from him?

If so, what was it that was so important that he would just clam up like that?

Even so, the idea of him not remembering whatever this thing was that was so important scared him.

If Alphonse was hiding something from him, he would find out what that thing was.