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Alphonse collapsed on the bench, resting his crutch against the side of it and forcing his lungs to take in oxygen at a measured pace. He bowed his head to ensure neither of the other Elrics would notice his slight wheezing while they talked above him, and managed to keep it together until Ed wandered off to the ticket booth to get an extra ticket for him.

He waited for his brother to disappear into the crowd milling about the station before finally heaving in a gulp of air. Yet he took in too much and coughs erupted from his throat, his heart thumping painfully in his chest and whole body rocking from his fit.

"H-hey, are you okay!?" His past self leaned over him, hands hovering over his body uncertainly.

"I-I'm fine," Alphonse forced out, raising a hand to muffle his coughs. "I'm okay," he said through his heavy breathing, which was gradually steadying. "My lungs...just aren't used to exercising like they did today."

Al, concerned frown in his voice, asked, "Why didn't you tell us we were going too fast? We would have slowed down for you."

Alphonse opened his mouth to explain he hadn't mean to overexert himself—he just forgot his body's limitations sometimes—but suddenly Al raised his head to look over him. "Lieutenant Hawkeye?"

Alphonse's eyes widened and he twisted back to see Hawkeye standing a few feet behind the bench, her cinnamon brown eyes on Al while she blinked in surprise. However, soon a small smile stretched her lips and she approached them.

"Alphonse." Hawkeye nodded towards Al. "Edwa—" She stopped, stiffening as she took in the full sight of Alphonse.

"My apologizes," the woman said swiftly, her voice even despite how she was likely flustered by her mistake. "I saw Alphonse and assumed you were his older brother." Her eyes caught on his golden hair before focusing on his eyes, no doubt noticing his resemblance to Ed.

Alphonse, surprised and disturbed by this unexpected encounter because it hadn't happened when he went to Liore, forced his lips into a polite smile. "That's okay, I do look a lot like Ed from behind."

"He's our cousin, Alex," Al explained, lie coming out smoothly now that he'd already told it to Hughes. "He lives in Central, but wanted to see us off."

Alphonse nodded. "It's nice to meet you Miss..." He purposefully paused like he didn't know her name.

"First Lieutenant Hawkeye." She inclined her head while a fleeting, thin smile graced her face. "It's nice to meet you as well." Her tone was kind, yet her eyes narrowed slightly and Alphonse grew nervous—she couldn't have figured out he was lying, right?

"Did the colonel send you?" Al decided to take some heat off his older self before the Lieutenant could ask more revealing questions, aware Hawkeye wasn't one to be deceived for long. "Do you have more information on the Liore case?" He wouldn't be surprised if she did since Colonel Mustang had a bad habit of finding new information at the last minute and then rushing it over to Ed right as they were getting on the train.

"Yes, he sent me," Hawkeye said. "But I'm only here to buy our train tickets for East City since the colonel and I will be returning there this evening."

Al nodded, secretly grateful she was busy working and therefore wouldn't linger. "Well, it was nice running into you."

"Yes, it was." Hawkeye smiled warmly. "You boys have a safe trip." She turned to Alphonse and her face mellowed into a neutral expression, though her tone was still kind. "And I hope your recovery goes well."

Alphonse was taken aback, but quickly realized she'd seen his crutch and it was pretty obvious he wasn't up to full health.

The future Elric grinned appreciatively. "Thank you."

Hawkeye inclined her head and walked off towards the ticket booth, Alphonse's heartbeat calming once she was out of sight. "That was close," he sighed.

"I'm guessing you didn't see Hawkeye at the train station back when you went to Liore?" Al stated more than asked.

"No." Alphonse frowned at the floor. "But I think we did now because Ed had to buy me a train ticket. Last time Brother and I just went on the train without lingering at the station." He ran a hand through his hair. "This isn't good...that's the second change I've caused just by being here with you two."

Al inwardly frowned, shifting nervously while their discussion of the dangers associated with time travel replayed in his head. However, his thoughts halted as a soft scuffling noise caught his attention. He looked around. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Alphonse asked right as a meow resounded from below him. His brow jumped up and he quickly bent over while Alphonse crouched and they both checked under the bench.

Pastel blue eyes in a furry face stared back at them.

"A kitten!" Al and his future self exclaimed in unison, worry forgotten as the younger boy gently scooped up the muddy orange feline while Alphonse stood up on his crutch to appraise it. "It's so cute!" Al stroked the kitten's back and the cat purred, completely complacent in his hand.

"So soft," Alphonse added, reaching over to scratch its head.

"Fluffy—"

"Docile—"

"Friendly—"

"We have to keep it!" They cheered together before turning to each other in shock. However, Al soon got over it and reached down to unhook the straps holding up his chest plate when suddenly Alphonse grabbed his arm.

"Wait." Alphonse's expression grew pinched. "I remember this cat..." His face fell and a thick gloom clouded over him as he cried, "But Brother found her before we got on the train!"

His shoulders slumped, head hanging low, and Al dropped into a similar stance. "Awww, really?"

"Yes, she kept making noise," Alphonse said, kicking a pebble out of frustration. "I don't think she was comfortable in the armor," he sighed just when an idea struck him and he froze. "But," a wide grin spread across his face, "It doesn't have to be like that this time!"

He reached for the kitten and Al handed it to him. "You have an idea?"

"Mhm." Alphonse smirked. "Maybe she'll stay quiet if she's somewhere more comfortable." He peered down at the stray, stroking her head with his thumb before gently placing the feline in the right pocket of his hoodie. The cat left a noticeable bulge on his side, and wiggled around in his pocket while she tried to get settled, so Alphonse discretely hung his arm in front of the kitten.

Al pumped his fist excitedly. "That's perfect, he'll never suspect you have it!"

"Alphonse!"

Al jumped and his future self nearly toppled over his crutch as Ed strolled up to them from behind, waving a train ticket through the air with a proud smirk. "Guess who got you the last ticket to...Liore... What's going on?" His brow furrowed when he noticed Al twiddling his thumbs and Alphonse refusing to make eye contact.

"Nothing." Alphonse shrugged, scratching the back of his hair nervously.

Ed's eyes narrowed, expression unimpressed. "Is that so?"

Al twitched and stuttered. "Um, we were just worried you wouldn't get a ticket, that's all."

Ed's eyes narrowed even more, but both Alphonses refused to look at him, so he sighed and extended his gloved hand. "Alright, hand it over." He motioned towards himself.

Alphonse flinched, mouth opening to appeal to his brother, but then he noticed Ed was staring at his younger self.

"Hand what over?" Al asked innocently, and Alphonse could just imagine him batting his puppy-dog eyes. Wow, did he really sound that convincing when he was playing innocent? No wonder people always fell for Alphonse's "I'm just a naive child" act.

Ed's lips firmed into a line, face hardening. "The cat you're hiding in your armor." Irritation sparked in his tone. "Now cough it up! The train is about to leave and we are not taking it with us."

"But, Brother," Al implored, "I don't have a kitten. Really, I don't."

Ed paused, taken aback by his brother's earnestness. Normally when he caught on to Al trying to smuggle a cat, the younger Elric would just sigh, open his chest plate, and reveal the stray.

The elder Elric was starting to doubt himself, even lowering his hand, but then he realized Al wasn't the only Elric with an affinity for strays here.

Alphonse flinched as Ed's eyes shifted to him, and noticing this, Ed said, "So it's you—"

The train whistled loud and sharp, signaling its impending departure, and Al quickly said, "Time to go!" He turned and lifted a startled Alphonse, dropping him off in front of the train doors. His older self wobbled a little, but realizing this was his chance to escape, soon hurried up the steps.

"Hey! This discussion isn't over!" Ed scowled, hands balling up. Yet Al had already boarded the train and was going down the aisle behind Alphonse.

Ed growled, stomping up into the train. "I swear if either of you have a cat—" The train doors shut behind him, muffling his threats from the outside world as well as silencing the crackle of blue sparks that erupted on the ground just outside the doors.

Pedestrians on the platform cried out in shock and fear, backing away from the blue lightning while it danced through the sky as the train slowly started to chug forward.

Alphonse and Al were busy searching for unoccupied seats while Ed raged behind them, shaking his fist, so none of the Elrics noticed how most passengers were staring out their windows and gaping at the alchemical lightning or poking their heads out the train to get a closer look.

By the time the Elric brothers were properly seated, the train had pulled far from the station, and when they finally glanced out their window, all they saw were crystal blue skies and rolling green meadows.

Mustang stopped in front of the large window in Central Command, the sun rays beaming onto his sleek raven hair. "I have to leave soon, Hughes," he sighed, exasperated by his friend's persistence. Yet he was certain if he didn't satisfy Hughes curiosity now, it would only give the man another excuse to bombard him with phone calls later, so he said, "But I can spare a few minutes." He observed Hughes lazily from the corner of his eye. "So what else do you want to know?"

The lieutenant colonel shrugged, his posture casual though his gaze was sharp. "I was just wondering how Ed's uncle and aunt feel about him joining the military." An edge of disapproval laced his tone, the mere thought of him allowing his own adorable little girl to join the army at age twelve inconceivable.

"They don't have any uncles or aunts to my knowledge." Mustang held his hands behind his back. "Their mother was an only child and their father never mentioned having any siblings."

Surprise lit up Hughes' face. "But don't those boys have a cousin?" He cocked his head. "Who lives in this city?"

The silence between them lingered for a moment and Hughes's brow furrowed. "Roy?

Mustang slowly turned to him, a perturbed look on his face.

"What?" Hughes raised a brow.

Mustang shook his head and his expression eased. "It's nothing, just you're the third person to ask me if Fullmetal has a cousin or twin today." He placed his hand on his chin and hummed. "I'm starting to wonder if I'm missing something."

Hughes blinked, unsure how other people in the military knew about Alex when Ed's own commander didn't. Though perhaps they too had run into the Elrics this morning and seen them all together. Regardless, Hughes said, "Well, I saw the boys a few hours ago and they told me about their cousin Alex."

Mustang's eyes widened. "They did?"

Hughes nodded. "I even saw their cousin." He raised his hand up to his chest level. "A boy about this tall with a crutch and the same hair and eye color as Ed."

Mustang's lips parted in shock. "That's...a surprise." His face grew leery. "There's no cousins listed on Fullmetal's file, but it's possible..."

Hughes leaned towards the man, an eager gleam in his eyes. "What's possible?"

Mustang sighed. "The Elric's father abandoned them when they were little." Hughes pulled back, shocked. "And they don't know where he went after he left them or if he's still alive, but if he got remarried and had another kid..."

Hughes grew serious. "They might have a half-sibling, maybe one they ran into recently."

Mustang glared at the floor. "It seems I'm going to have give the Elric brothers a call once they reach Liore." He pulled his silver pocket watch out and glanced at the time. "Though for now, I have a train to catch."

Hughes deflated. "Right now? But we were just getting somewhere!"

Mustang shrugged and walked past the man. "Like I said, I won't be able to contact the Elrics until they arrive at Liore, which won't be happening today."

The lieutenant colonel frowned and straightened up. "I guess you're right." He rushed to catch up to Mustang who was exiting through the door and clapped his shoulder. "But you have to tell me everything once you figure out what's going on!"

"Yeah, yeah," Mustang pulled away and started down the steps. "I'll see you later, Hughes." He glanced back from the bottom of the stairs with a slight smile and his friend raised a hand in farewell before disappearing into the building.

Mustang turned ahead, but didn't move. Could the Elrics really have found a half-brother in Central? And if so, how were they dealing with the situation?

The man shrugged off his thoughts, he would have the entire train ride to East City to think about it, and started walking briskly down the sidewalk towards the train station. After all, his lieutenant might actually shoot him if he caused them to miss the train.

"Colonel?"

Mustang stopped, eyes widening. "Lieutenant?" He stared at Hawkeye across the street who was panting as if she'd been running. Quickly he crossed the distance between them, concerned and confused. "Why are you here? I thought we were meeting at the station."

"Sir," Hawkeye said tersely, making Mustang tense because though her tone was flat, her eyes were sharp. "It's the Elrics."

"Fullmetal?" Mustang asked, knowing the younger Elric had no human body that could be harmed.

"He's at Central Hospital." Hawkeye confirmed and Mustang's heart stopped, the worst possibilities running through his mind. "And Alphonse is missing."

Mustang gaped while she explained. "I saw Alphonse at the train station, but I left him to go buy our tickets. I thought he had already boarded the train to Liore with Edward, but then an alchemy transmutation activated right next to the train as it was leaving. Once the lightning calmed, I approached to arrest whoever caused the transmutation and found Edward unconscious on the ground."

The colonel's face hardened. "Was he attacked?"

Hawkeye shook her head. "Nobody saw what happened, the transmutation was too bright." Her lips pursed. "And we couldn't find Alphonse anywhere."

"He would never have left his brother like that." Mustang's expression darkened. "Unless someone forced him to."

Anger burned in Hawkeye's eyes. "My thoughts exactly." She frowned. "But we won't know anything for sure until Edward wakes up."

Mustang gave a sharp nod of agreement. "Let's go."

Hawkeye came up beside him and together they strode down the street towards the hospital. Mustang hoped Ed wasn't injured too badly and that Alphonse was alright, but it sounded like even his lieutenant wasn't sure about their condition.

The colonel's hands clenched while a thread of nervousness wrapped around his heart. Mustang tried shaking off the feeling, but the worry clung to him like gum in hair. There was just something wrong about this situation, and the sensation of wrongness only grew as they arrived outside of Central Hospital.

"You know, Al, I was really hoping you would outgrow this one day," Ed hissed through clenched teeth and Alphonse hung his head low, shrinking into himself beside his brother on the train seat. "But clearly," he turned his stormy expression towards Al across from him, who was also bowing his head.

"You're too far gone," Ed heaved a heavy sigh, dragging his hand down his face.

"But Brother," Al timidly began, clutching the kitten more closely to his chest when Ed glared at the stray. "She isn't noisy and I can train her if you—"

"No, Al!" Ed shouted with finality, causing some of the other passengers to shoot him irritated looks. "I've told you a hundred times we can't keep pets! Just use your head, do you actually think any animal would enjoy being banged around in your armor every time we went on a dangerous mission?" He thrust his pointer finger in the cat's face, and the feline seemed to think it was a game so began batting at the finger until Al pulled her away.

"But she needs a home," the younger boy said plaintively.

"Not with us." Ed shook his head, some of the anger dissipating from his face. It wasn't like he didn't feel bad for the homeless creature, but they couldn't keep it and Al needed to understand that.

"Then how about with me?" Alphonse perked up, eyes shining with tentative hope. "My brother and I aren't traveling anymore, so we don't have to worry about taking her everywhere."

"Yeah, Brother!" Al agreed, excited by the prospect of having a cat in the future. "It won't be a problem if he takes her back to his time!" He wasn't sure it was even possible for Alphonse to take another living thing with him to the future, but if there was any chance...

"He can't either!" Ed snapped, frustrated he wasn't getting through to them. "First of all, it's a dirty stray carrying who-knows-what diseases and could scratch him and infect him!" He waved wildly at Alphonse. "Does it look like he can fight off an illness right now?"

Shock flashed on Alphonse's face. "H-how?" he stuttered, and Ed raised a brow at him. "How did you say the exact same thing my brother said when I found a stray outside the hospital?" He recalled trying to pick up the kitten lingering on the sidewalk by Central Hospital, only for Ed to immediately shoo it away while explaining it could give Alphonse rabies.

"Guess it's 'cause your brother is a smart guy." Ed smirked slightly, though his mirth soon died away. "Also, have you considered what effect removing this cat from our time could have on the future?"

Alphonse stiffened while Ed glowered at the table. "You already changed the past just by sneaking it onto the train, and maybe that isn't a big deal, but if you take this cat out of this time period entirely, don't you think that could lead to some serious changes happening in the future?"

Alphonse's face twisted with guilt, eyes falling. "You're right... I didn't even think about that..." He sighed, raising his face to gaze sadly at Al. "We can't keep her."

Al's shoulders slumped and Ed crossed his arms. "We should leave it at the next stop."

Alphonse's eyes became moist while a quiet sob echoed in Al's armor. Ed frowned, growing uncomfortable as their mutual despair billowed around them like fog.

"D-don't give me those looks!" Ed raised his hands as if to ward off an attack, sweat breaking out across his forehead. "You know it's the right thing to do, for our future and for it." He gestured towards the kitten, and once again thinking he was playing, the furball leapt out of Al's hands and onto the table.

"Hey!" Ed cried when the cat started rubbing itself against his wrist, its soft, downy fur brushing against the exposed skin between his glove and sleeve.

Ed jerked his arm back, but found Alphonse was still giving him a kicked-puppy look while Al released another sob, his hands coming over his face.

The elder Elric's eye twitched, and finally unable to handle their despair, he threw up his hands. "Fine!" He yanked the kitten up, causing it to yelp. "You can keep the kitten for the train ride." He deposited the furball onto Alphonse's lap and the boy's eyes widened while Al gasped excitedly. "But it is being left at Liore and that's final!"

"Dawnie can stay!" Al cheered, leaning over the table to stroke the kitten's back while Alphonse scratched it behind the ears.

"You already named it!?" Ed screeched, but was ignored as Al and Alphonse gushed over the purring kitten.

Ed groaned and rubbed his temples. If they had already named the cat that meant they were already attached to the thing, which also meant it was only going to be harder to separate them from the stray once they reached Liore.

The eldest Elric glared at the kitten. "You just had to be cute and fluffy, didn't you?"

As if responding, the cat raised its head and meowed in his direction, its blue eyes twinkling innocently.

Ed sank back into his seat with another groan, already sure this train ride was going to last longer than he'd expected.

Alphonse smiled as Dawnie pounced on a loose thread hanging from his hoodie's left pocket. Beside him, Ed and Al were discussing the chances of Cornello having a genuine philosopher's stone. He was pretending not to notice Ed shooting him looks every two minutes in an obvious attempt to read his reaction to what they were saying, but admittedly Ed's curiosity was starting to bother him.

Clearly despite their conversation about the potential consequences of him telling Ed about the future, his brother hadn't completely fought off the desire to learn how Alphonse got his body back.

Alphonse bit his lip and gazed down at Dawnie who was stretching out across his legs, perhaps tired from all her playing. He stroked her back idly while guilt festered within him. It wasn't like he didn't want to tell Ed and his past self the truth. In fact, the desire to tell them cropped up almost every time they spoke because more than anyone Alphonse knew how painful it was to be in Al's place. He knew how lonely the nights were and the doubt that plagued him because was he still even human without a body?

Tears stung Alphonse's eyes because it wasn't just his past self's life he could improve, but what about all the people who died in the battle against Father and the homunculi? He could save them, like he could save Hughes—

Dawnie suddenly launched herself into his side, aiming for his hoodie's loose thread, and Alphonse looked down at her right as his envelope slid out of his pocket and onto the aisle floor.

"My letter!" Alphonse cried, worried the breeze from an open window might sweep his letter into the air and out of the train. Hurriedly he grabbed his crutch and stuck it on top of the envelope, dragging it across the floor. He bent down to pick it up, setting his crutch back against the seat while he examined the letter inside to make sure it wasn't torn.

It wasn't, and Alphonse sank back in relief, lowering the envelope to the table. However, he noticed Ed and Al staring at him and sat up. "What?"

Ed, looking curious, said, "I'm just wondering why you've been hanging on to that letter for like two months."

Alphonse's eyes fluttered. "How did you know that?"

"We read the date and your name on the letter," Al said apologetically. "Sorry, but we wanted to know who you were and found it on you last night."

"It's okay." Alphonse smiled reassuringly. "I know you were only looking for information." He turned to Ed. "And to answer your question, this letter is from a dear friend who lives far away." He stared down at the envelope with tenderness. "It has her address on it, and if I lose it I won't be able to write her back."

Ed, eyes shining with mischievous, raised a brow. "Her?" His lips curved into a smirk. "Don't tell me it's a love letter?"

Alphonse shook his head, laughing. "May is just a friend."

"If that's true," Ed's smirk broadened and his finger circled over the envelope, "What's up with all those hearts by your name?"

A look of fondness softened Alphonse's face, but he still shook his head. "Well, May never really hid how she felt about me."

Ed blinked, not expecting Alphonse to admit such a personal detail, but soon a devilish grin spread across his face. "Is the feeling mutual?"

"Brother!" Al squeaked, embarrassed as if he were the Alphonse being addressed.

However, the future Elric merely shrugged. "She was just my teacher in Xing's version of alchemy. It's called alkahestry."

Ed paused at the new information. "They have alchemy in Xing?" The intellectual side of him yearned to know more about this alkahestry, especially how it might relate to the philosopher's stone, but then he noticed the slight smirk on Alphonse's face and it hit him that the younger boy was trying to distract him. "Heeey, you didn't answer the question..."

Momentary shock flashed on Alphonse's face while Ed leaned towards him, smirking. "Sooo, do you like her back?"

Alphonse smiled, but his grin was all teeth as he said, "I'm surprised you're not asking about your own girlfriend, Brother."

Ed's jaw hit the table and Al grasped his chest plate like he was having a heart attack. "Brother, has a girlfriend!?" he squawked, swiveling towards Ed who had a gobsmacked expression frozen on his face.

However, Ed snapped his head up to glare at Al once he registered his words. "Why are you acting so shocked!?" He huffed, crossing his arms. "I could have a girlfriend if I wanted—" He choked, suddenly realizing what he was saying while pink dusted his cheeks.

"Actually, he doesn't," Alphonse giggled, and Ed slumped in relief as Al made a noise of disappointment. "At least not yet." He patted Ed on the shoulder. "Now that we're going to Resembool, you'll have plenty of time to catch up with Winry."

Ed's eyes expanded into moons. "And to tell her how you feel—"

"No, we're done!" Ed's hand sliced through the air and Alphonse bit his tongue to keep in his laughter. "I-it's not safe for you to tell us about our future so you should stop. Right now."

His voice was pitched and his words rushed, yet Al showed no mercy and said, "Aww, but I think you and Winry would be cute togeth—"

"I'm taking a nap!" Ed flopped onto his side, face practically smushed against the window so he wouldn't have to look at them. "Didn't get much sleep last night," he muttered the excuse, closing his eyes and begging sleep to come.

Al and Alphonse shared a look.

"Still oblivious in your time?" Al whispered.

Alphonse sighed exaggeratedly. "Don't get me started."

They might have continued their conversation, but Ed conveniently began snoring so loudly they couldn't hear each other over it, and taking pity on their brother, the two finally gave it a rest.

Alphonse couldn't remember how he got here, his knees digging into the jagged earth and white sunlight burning his eyes, but it took him less than a second to recognize the voice screaming.

"Energy!" Father lumbered towards Ed who watched his approach with wide eyes, his automail arm missing and left arm pinned to the concrete slab behind him.

"Stop!" Alphonse shouted, heart hammering as he clambered to his feet. Yet his legs immediately buckled under him and he collapsed harshly onto his hands. Where was his crutch? He needed it now!

"Edward!" a number of voices called in horror while Ed writhed against the slab, blood spilling from where the steel rod was embedded in his arm. Yet he couldn't budge an inch as Father stalked closer.

"Stop it!" Alphonse begged, voice high with desperation. However, Father paid him no heed, so Alphonse clapped his hands and slapped them against the ground.

Nothing happened. Alphonse's eyes widened, and breath quickening, he clapped his hands and hit them against the ground again. Still nothing. His alchemy was gone, he couldn't help Brother. He was useless.

Alphonse looked up and gasped at seeing Father standing directly above Ed, his hand lowering towards him.

"No, he's my brother! My brother!" The pale monstrosity of a man continued to bring his hand closer to Ed and Alphonse screamed louder. "Not my brother, not my brother!"

Father's hand landed on Ed's chest right above his heart and his golden eyes darted to Alphonse.

"Brother!" Alphonse cried as red sparks flared around Ed.

Fear, regret, and so much sadness filled his brother's eyes as he whispered. "Al..."

"Brother!" Alphonse lunged forward, but a heavy force crashed into his back and forced him to the floor. He hissed in pain and twisted back, yet gaped at seeing a familiar suit of armor holding him down.

"Don't leave me," Alphonse's own disembodied voice came from the suit of armor and Alphonse shuddered. He couldn't ever go back to that cold, unfeeling body, especially not now when Ed needed him—

"I'm sorry." Ed closed his eyes and the red lightning consumed him as Alphonse's head whipped up, chin scraping against the jagged earth.

"BROTHER!" he screamed, writhing like mad while Ed's cries of agony filled the air—

Alphonse jerked up in his seat and nearly banged his head on the metal arm resting on his shoulder, but Al swiftly pulled back before he could.

"Alphonse?" Al asked worriedly, and Alphonse flinched, thinking he was going to be pinned to the ground again. However, soon yesterday's memories flooded in and he remembered this was his past self, he had traveled back in time, and Ed was—

He swiveled to the left and found his brother slumped against the window, his breathing slow and even while his expression was serene. His red cloak was draped over him like a blanket, but his gloved automail hand stuck out from under it, completely whole and not in pieces like during the fight against Father.

Alphonse laid a hand over his chest, sighing in relief while his heart began to calm. Brother was safe, he wasn't fighting Father and no one was trying to force him back into that suit of armor. It was just a nightmare.

"I'm sorry I woke you," Al said quietly so he wouldn't bother the other sleeping train passengers. "But you were having a bad dream, right?" He took in the wild-eyed look on Alphonse's face and couldn't help comparing it to the only other golden-eyed person who also had nightmares, yet what could he have seen in the future to give him nightmares to rival Ed's?

"I..." Alphonse trailed off, realizing he couldn't tell his past self what he was dreaming about without revealing future events. "I can't tell you about it." He turned to the window and gazed at the purple and pink streaked sky as the sun rose above the grassy fields.

"Was—" Al hesitated, and Alphonse faced him. "Was it about Brother?"

Alphonse grimaced and looked down to find Dawnie curled up in his lap asleep. Seeing her eased some of his tension, reminding him of where he was, and Alphonse wiped the cold sweat from his forehead while he said, "It had something to do with him." He sighed. "Don't worry about it, I just get bad nightmares sometimes. Normally Brother wakes me up before it gets to the part where—" He stopped, realizing he was about to reveal the details of his dream, probably because he was so used to letting it all out once Ed woke him up.

But Brother wasn't here now and there was no one he could tell.

"Who is May?" Al asked, startling Alphonse with the sudden switch in topic. "You don't have to be detailed, but it might be nice to talk about her," he finished lamely.

Alphonse blinked, though soon it hit him that Al was trying to distract him. Of course his past self would remember when he was young Ed and Mom could never get him to talk about his nightmares, and the only way to really cheer him up was to talk about anything except his bad dream.

Alphonse had actually outgrown the tendency to avoid facing his nightmares, but having a distracting conversation was still a pretty good way to calm him down, so he said, "She's from Xing."

Al, politely curious, asked, "But you met her in Amestris?"

Alphonse nodded. "She traveled across all those deserts by herself."

"Wow," Al said, clearly as impressed as he had been when he learned May traveled across such a rough terrain on her own.

"Yeah, she is a tough girl. Fast too." Alphonse recalled her strength in battle, but that made him think about Father, so he turned his focus away from May's physical qualities.

"She's also very smart and really proficient at alkehestry." A tiny smile spread over Alphonse's face. "But really stubborn." He chuckled, recalling how they argued when she tried to teach him her version of alchemy and kept pointing at her head like it would magically explain everything.

"I see why you like her," Al said, and Alphonse's grin broadened.

"I'm sure you'll like her too one day." A little bashfully, he added. "She's very nice and brave." He recalled May coming back to save the citizens of Amestris, risking her life for people that weren't even her own. "And when she gets excited, her eyes look like stars..."

Alphonse sensed his younger self gazing intently at him, and though his metal face couldn't form expressions, he was pretty sure Al was staring at him in shock.

Realizing he might have gone into too much detail, Alphonse coughed. "So that's enough about May... Do you, uh, want to hold Dawnie?"

Al shook his head. "Uh, no, that's okay." He leaned over the table to stare happily at the kitten. "She looks comfortable where she is." He lightly brushed his hand over the feline. "Maybe Brother will let us keep her?"

"Doubtful," a rough voice said, making both Alphonses start and turn to Ed who had cracked open one eye to observe him. "I haven't changed my mind by 1915, so why would I change my mind now?" He fully turned to face them, though he didn't straighten up from leaning against the window.

"Brother, how long have you been up?" Alphonse couldn't help asking, hoping Ed hadn't heard him talking about May.

"Not too long." Ed offered, voice a little thick from disuse. "Why? You guys talking about me or something?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Al's body shook slightly as he snickered. "No. Do you want us to?"

Ed sent him a deadpan look and Alphonse smiled at their interaction, recalling his own playful banter with his brother.

But Brother wasn't here...

"Alphonse." Ed's tone grew serious as he observed the worried frown on Alphonse's face. "I know you said it might take your brother more than a few hours to return you to the future, but it's been a whole day. What's taking him?" Curiosity and concern mingled in his gaze.

Alphonse bowed his head. "I don't know, maybe he's having trouble making a reversal equation." He didn't really believe that since reversals were essentially the same as the original equation, just backwards. It should have been easy for an alchemy genius like his brother to craft one, so why hadn't Brother returned him to his time yet? Even if he needed to call another alchemist to activate the transmutation circle it shouldn't take this long...

"Sure, that's it." Sarcasm laced Ed's words as he scowled. "He should be finished by now, so why hasn't he activated the transmutation already?" He leaned into Alphonse's face and the future Elric couldn't meet his eyes.

"You know, don't you?" There was no doubt in Ed's voice.

"Stop it, Brother, we already talked about this." Al reminded, waving his brother down.

"No, it's okay," Alphonse said, expression growing determined. "I guess I can tell you a little." Ed's eyes lit up with surprise, but Alphonse figured he should tell Ed something before he managed to figure out the truth, so raised his head and calmly admitted. "Brother can't activate an array as easily as he used to." Al reeled back and Ed's lips parted. "I can't tell you why."

Ed's face crinkled, shock and a number of other emotions running over his features while he whispered. "What...do you mean?"

"Transmuting is more complicated for him these days. I'm sorry, but that's all I can say." Alphonse closed his eyes, knowing this news would only worry Al and Ed.

He stared down at Dawnie who was blinking sleepily and gently added. "Anyway, I'm sure that's the only reason he hasn't activated the array."

The other Elrics continued eyeing him silently, an uncomfortable air settling over them, but eventually Ed nodded. "Yeah, that's probably it." His face hardened, brows slanting in determination. "But don't worry, Alphonse, he won't take much longer."

The future Elric smiled at the familiar iron will hardening Ed's voice—it was so much like Brother's.

Yet still off.

Alphonse's face fell and he looked to the window. "Of course, I know he will." He gazed at the passing farmland and wondered how many hours till they reached Liore.

And how many hours till he could finally go home.

I'm glad I finished this in two weeks, but my summer break officially ended today and I'm back to attending classes so I'm not sure I'll have the next chapter up as soon.

In the coming chapter the trio arrives in Liore, things will go a bit differently than episode three of Brotherhood, and there will be an explanation for what/who Mustang and Hawkeye encountered at the hospital.

Until next time, byes!

Revised: 9/21/21