So This is a reupload of this chapter. Sorry everyone, I accidentally uploaded my copy that was my edit copy, not the copy with just the revised works. That is why it was so hard to read. Thank you Quidirlrider and Elayna19 for bringing that to my attention, my apologies for the mistake. Also thanks to prettygal2426, I'm glad you are enjoying this : )
I tried to make myself look busy as I eavesdropped on the Elric brothers conversation. Winry had warned me that the pair may be wary about accepting my request of travel. I had decided that the younger brother would be my best bet, he seemed a lot less confrontational, and if I played my cards right perhaps I could get him on my side.
I was so busy eavesdropping that I didn't notice that Den had ended up next to me, until a cold wet nose pressed against my side where my shirt had ridden up. With a yelp I jumped at the touch before scolding the dog playfully. He sat back and wagged his tail, looking expectantly up at me.
"What? Do you want to go for a walk?" at the word 'walk' he jumped up, barking excitedly and following close at my heels as I moved to slip my shoes on. He followed me out the door, close at my side.
Walking past the brothers who sat on the grass below the porch I paused "Hello, I don't mean to interrupt, but I was about to take Den on a walk and was wondering if you wanted to join us." The duo looked up at us
"Well, I can't do much walking right now, but I think brother was about to go on a walk himself." Edward shot his younger brother a look before speaking up.
"Actually, I was planning on going alone. There's some stuff I have to take care of." I looked at the blonde for a minute before offering him a smile.
"Well why don't you take Den with you, and I'll stay here. Kill two birds with one stone." He nodded, thoughtfull.
"Yeah that makes sense. I'm going to get dressed, I'll be right back Den." He rubbed the dog's head before heading inside. As the front door closed I turned to Al with a smile.
"Mind if I join you?"
"No not at all." I plopped down with a sigh in Edwards abandoned spot.
"Thanks, it get's pretty boring with Winry in work mode. She won't even take a break to eat half the time" Al nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, she is great at what does though. We really appreciate all that she has done for us." I nodded before laying back, stretching my arms above my head looking up to the sky.
"So you three are childhood friends right?"
"Yeah, we used to live down the road." I nodded, his story matching up with what Winry had told me.
"So what are you two up to now? Winry says you hardly ever come by anymore, I know I haven't seen you in the last three years." He sighed.
"We've been busy, looking for something"
"What could you possibly be looking for that takes so long to find?" I asked, rolling onto my side to face him.
Before he could answer the front door opened, revealing Edward, now fully dressed. He called to Den, who quickly bounded to his side.
"We won't be gone long" He called to Al, who nodded in his direction.
We watched his form disappear down the path, Den loyally keeping pace by his side. Once he had completely disappeared I turned back to Al.
"Now as you were saying?"
"Oh yes, well I'm sure you've noticed by now mine and Ed's bodies aren't…normal. So were searching for a way to return them back to the way they were."
"How can you do that?"
"There is the rumor of a stone that allows one to overcome the rules of alchemy. If we got it we might be able to regain what we lost."
"What are the rules of alchemy? I'm still not even entirely sure what alchemist is to be honest" I admitted sheepishly. "Winry tried to explain it, but I guess I am just a hard study."
"Well alchemy is the science of deconstructing and reconstructing matter. Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. Do you understand?" I pursed my lips in thought.
"So if I was in the desert and wanted to make water I would just need the same amount of sand as water?" he chuckled.
"No quite, you see mass is only part of it. The thing you are trying to transmute must also contain the same properties." I nodded my head slowly.
"I see I think I understand. So this stone you're looking for doesn't have any rules attached to it?" I asked and Al nodded in return.
"That is the rumor."
"Wait the rumor? So you don't even know if what you're looking for really exists?" he shook his head with a sigh.
"No, actually all of our leads so far have been dead ends. But it's the only hope we have right now."
"So how did your bodies end up this way?" Al quickly went silent and looked away from me and I quickly backtracked, not wanting to ruin my chances with the younger brother. "I'm sorry is that too personal?"
"No it's ok. Just don't tell brother I told you." I dragged my fingers across my lips before mimicking sticking a key in a lock before throwing it away. "There are other rules that alchemists have come up with over the years. I'm sure that Winry mentioned our mother passed when we were younger?"
"Yeah she said she got sick. I'm so sorry."
"Well we were young, and we missed her so much. She was great, her smile lit up the room, and she was the nicest person you would ever meet. You would have really liked her." I smiled softly at his words.
"I believe it," and I did, she would have to be an angel to raise someone like Alphonse.
"We decided to commit one of the greatest taboos of alchemy, human transmutation." I cringed, while I was new to the world of alchemy I could put two and two together enough to figure out what that meant. "we were so naïve back then, but all we wanted was to see her again, just one more time." I longed to reach out to the boy, he sounded so broken, but I refrained. "We performed the greatest taboo. My brother lost his leg and I my body."
"But wait your brother is miss his arm too." Al nodded.
"He lost it as payment for my soul, which he attached to this suit of armor."
"That's terrible" I muttered, looking down at the ground. I thought I had it bad, being stranded here, but these two had lost everything, their family, their bodies and almost each other. The thought of my own brother nagged at the back of my mind and I cringed, what would I be willing to give up for him?
"It's the price we had to pay. There is nothing equal to that of a human life." I nodded in understanding.
"So are you two going to continue your search when you're all fixed up?" Al nodded, trying to regain some of the cheer in his voice.
"Yup, were determined to return to our normal forms no matter what." I smiled at his determination, it was endearing.
"Hey Al, I wondering, I know you two are heading back to Central once you're all patched up and well you see I'm looking for something as well. And now that I have use of my arm again I think it's high time that I go look for it. So, well I am hoping that you and your brother would consider taking me with you, at least just too Central?" The boy took his time answering, and I tried to muster the best pout I was capable of.
"Well I don't know, I'd have to talk to brother first. It can be dangerous hanging around us and we wouldn't be able to help you once there."
"That's ok, I can take care of myself. I just need help getting there. I can handle my search alone from there on out."
"I don't know…"
Please at least consider it!" I begged and he sighed.
"I'll talk to Ed about it." He conceded and I smiled up at the boy.
"Thanks Al, I appreciate it." I stood up, stretching. " Well sorry to chat and run but I should probably start dinner." I waved farewell before exiting into the house.
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Al sat alone in the yard, Hayden had left to make dinner a bit ago and was now hanging up laundry in the yard as he suspected she was waiting for it cook.
"What's the matter? You're spacing off." Al looked to Winry before turning back to the girl.
"Winry, that girl.."
"Hmmm?" she looked and caught sight of Hayden. "Oh you mean Hayden."
"Yes, I can remember her playing with us as kids but her name in my mind is different…she is different in my mind." Winry sighed.
"Yea well, she is different than who you remember." Al looked in surprise at his friend.
"What do you mean?" she set her box down and placed her hands on her hips thinking.
"Well I'm not sure how to explain it but, she came three years ago to me. She was dead when her dad brought her through our doors, but we tried anyways to try and bring her back. And she came back…but not really. She used to be Rebecca, but when she came around she had no memories of being Rebecca, of Amestris. I thought at first it was just because of shock, but as time went on she was positive that she was someone else."
"She talked about going through some gate and she says she is from a completely different world. As she tells me more and more I can't help but believe it because I have a hard time believing someone can come up with a story like that."
At the mention of the gate Al was instantly hooked. Perhaps this girl had some information that could help him and his brother.
"I see." Winry picked up the box with a smile.
"Yeah so don't worry you're not crazy, the Rebecca in your memories did exist." Winry headed back inside the house leaving Al to ponder the thoughts of the girl who stood before him.