Wow, we're halfway through this story already. There's only four chapters left. :O Thanks for the continued support, all of you readers are the reason we've made it this far! :)

The trio wandered through the empty streets of Liore, the sky above them a bright cerulean blue. Alphonse was hit by a tidal wave of memories while he gazed at the brick houses and stores they were passing, small details he had forgotten about the city returning as he looked around.

Yet he was also experiencing some aspects of Liore for the first time, like the sweet scent of fresh bread from the bakery on the street corner and the way it ached his legs and arm to walk along an uneven section of the sidewalk with his crutch, the train ride having stiffened up his joints. Then there was the fact his traveling companions were past versions of himself and his brother, which added an edge of surreality to his entire experience.

"How about here?" Ed stopped to point at a back alley where colorful candy wrappers littered the ground by a trashcan.

"No." Al glanced at the cat resting in his arms. "Dawnie doesn't like it here either." He gave the feline a couple strokes on the back, making her purr appreciatively.

Ed scowled, but obligingly moved on from the alley until he came upon another one by a restaurant, the six trashcans along its side overflowing with discarded meals. "Then how about here?" he asked hopefully, gesturing to the garbage. "She could eat the scraps they throw out."

"No," Al said firmly. "It's filthy, and if the waiter sees Dawnie they might hit her with a broom and hurt her."

Annoyance warped Ed's expression and he pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling loudly. "Come on, Al." He looked up, glaring. "You agreed to leave the cat somewhere in Liore." He threw out his arms toward the city. "And this is Liore."

"Yes," a smirk entered Al's voice, "But you never said when we had to leave her." Ed's eyes widened while the youngest Elric cheered. "Which means I can keep Dawnie until the mission is over."

"What!?" Ed demanded, rounding on Al. "We are not taking that thing with us on our mission!" His hands clenched and body shook with rage.

Yet Al, used to his brother's temper, simply asked, "Why not? She won't bother anyone." He looked down at the kitten and cooed. "Isn't that right, Dawnie?"

"It doesn't matter if the cat doesn't bother anyone!" Ed set his hands on his sides, and like a schoolteacher lecturing a student, said, "Bringing her with us would mess up the timeline, remember?" He smirked and side-eyed the older Al. "Isn't that right, Alphonse?"

The future Elric took a second to catch his breath, having been pushing himself to keep up with the other two who had been walking a little too fast for him. Though soon he said, "Yes, he has a point." Al sent him a betrayed look while Ed appeared smug. "But I doubt having a kitten will change that much, Brother." He smiled up at his younger self.

Ed's grin fell away as Al became the smug one and he glowered. "Well, regardless," he hissed through his teeth, "We're leaving her now."

Al released a horrified gasp and clutched the kitten close to his chest plate as if he was preparing to hide her in his armor. "We can't just abandon Dawnie."

Ed's eyes narrowed and he took a threatening step forward. "Yes, we can and will."

"That's too cruel, Brother!" Al stomped his foot and Dawnie flinched as the force vibrated the gauntlet hand holding her while trepidation pricked Alphonse's heart.

He and Brother had never argued when they were in Liore, but if Ed and Al did now the future might change. Like what if this argument made Al run off and leave Ed alone to fight Cornello? Or what if Ed's anger distracted him during the fight and he ended up getting seriously injured?

"What are you going to do if we have to run? Put the cat in your armor so it can get banged up!?"

"Well, I wouldn't have to worry about that if you didn't always antagonize people."

"Actually," Alphonse said loudly to get their attention, and Ed and Al snapped their heads over to him in shock, perhaps having forgotten he was there. "Maybe Rose can take in Dawnie. She's a girl we met here—or a girl you will meet here." He forced out a confident grin though he had no idea how Rose felt about cats or if she had the means to support a pet, but he would never forgive himself if he let this argument go on and Ed got hurt as a result.

"Rose?" The eldest Elric seemed to mull over Alphonse's proposition, crossing his arms and staring at the ground. Eventually he looked up and said, "Fine, but please tell me we'll meet her soon."

Alphonse nodded. "In a few hours."

Ed smiled and clapped his hands. "Great, then we'll give her the cat. Problem solved!" He started walking down the street, swinging his arms as he was clearly in a better mood.

Alphonse moved to follow him, his aching muscles eager to have a break, but Al whispered. "What if Rose won't take her?"

The older boy paused before smiling gently. "There's a good chance she will. Rose is very kind." He took a step towards his younger self and scratched Dawnie's head, knowing he wouldn't get to see her again. "And you'll run into Rose months from now, so if she keeps Dawnie, you can visit her."

Al straightened up, brightening. "That...doesn't sound so bad."

Alphonse nodded, pleased his younger self was no longer distraught. "And who knows what will happen if we keep visiting Dawnie." He shrugged. "Maybe once she isn't a stray and we settle down in Resembool, Brother will actually let us keep her."

Some part of the fifteen-year old dared to hope that Dawnie really could stay with him in his hometown one day as he turned from Al and began heading to the tall, tan building near the middle of the street that had a hotel sign hanging over its front doors.

Al quietly followed him, perhaps also imagining a future with Dawnie, while Alphonse entered the hotel lobby and found Ed already there, swinging a key on a ring around his finger.

"Alright, Al." Ed left the receptionist desk to hand the key to Alphonse. "We'll come back for you sometime in the afternoon." He pushed open the front door, but paused, a worried frown coming upon his face. "Will you be alright by yourself till then?"

Alphonse beamed. "Of course," he said, resisting the urge to warn Ed about Cornello. Everything would turn out alright even if he didn't say anything so he kept his mouth shut.

Ed didn't look reassured, likely noticing Alphonse was refraining from saying something, but soon he nodded. "Okay." He sent him one last searching look before walking out the door and joining Al on the sidewalk.

His younger self waved. "See you later!"

Alphonse waved back until the hotel door closed. Then he turned, eager to get in his hotel room and rest his feet, but froze as a blond man with long hair passed him to exit the building. For a second he thought it was Brother passing him, but he quickly noticed the square glasses perched on the man's nose and realized it was a stranger.

Alphonse's eyes fell and he sighed. Where was Brother? Why hadn't he brought Alphonse back home yet?

Heart heavy, the fifteen-year old trudged to his room, feeling strangely discarded though he'd been the one to convince Ed to leave him in a hotel. After all, Alphonse's mere presence had caused Hughes and Lieutenant Hawkeye to run into Al and Ed when they shouldn't have, and he didn't want to cause similar changes in Liore. No, it seemed the world was better off if Alphonse simply locked himself in a room and stayed out of the way.

But maybe making changes can end up saving Hughes—a voice hissed in his mind. However, Alphonse shoved away the thought as he found the door matching the number inscribed on his hotel key.

He put the key in the lock and turned it, mentally reminding himself he couldn't save Hughes without risking his own future and the lives of many others. That would be playing God, and Alphonse had already experienced the consequences of trying to to control life and death, it was a lesson he didn't need to learn ever again.

No matter how tempting it was to try.

Alphonse fell into a doze, and was steadily drifting into a genuine slumber when the phone on the nightstand started ringing. He slowly sat up on the bed, blinking away the haze of sleep. Was room service calling him?

Confused, Alphonse dragged himself over to the edge of the bed and grabbed the phone, bringing it to his ear. "Hello?" he asked, voice a little scratchy since he'd been sleeping.

A beat passed over the line, and then a voice said, "Alphonse?"

The teen's eyes widened and he nearly dropped the phone. "Colonel?" It was a shock to hear from the man since the last time they'd spoken was weeks ago when Mustang was discharged from the hospital, the recovery of his eyes not quite complete, but good enough that he no longer needed to be supervised by doctors.

"Uh," Alphonse stuttered, mentally questioning if Mustang had ever called them in Liore. He hadn't, right? So why was he now?

He shook off his thoughts, there wasn't any time to wonder, and said, "Yes, this is Alphonse." He pitched his voice so it would be a tad higher, recalling how it had gotten a bit deeper recently.

"Finally," Mustang sighed. "I called two other hotels before finding this one and being told a room had actually been reserved under Fullmetal's name."

Alphonse's brow rose because if the colonel had been willing to call three hotels just to reach him, he must have something important to say. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Well," the colonel hesitated, and dread filled the pit of Alphonse's stomach, "We have a bit of a situation here in Central. Can you put Ed on the phone?"

Alphonse frowned, hearing the tension behind the man's casual tone, but calmly replied, "Ed isn't here right now." He shook his head though the man wouldn't see it. "He won't be back for a while."

Mustang cursed too softly for Alphonse to make it out. "Of course, he isn't," he grumbled, voice muffled as he probably ran a hand down his face. "Okay, this is too urgent to wait, so pass on what I tell you to Ed the moment you see him."

Alphonse swallowed thickly, realizing something serious must have happened, something that hadn't occurred in his timeline. "I will," he promised, hand tightening around the phone because what could it be? And how did Alphonse's actions cause this change?

"Fullmetal is being impersonated by an unidentified boy," Mustang said bluntly, and Alphonse's lips parted. "His imposter showed up yesterday morning at the Central City train station. It seems the boy was either attacked by a rogue alchemist next to a train or his injuries were accidentally self-inflicted, but somehow he was knocked unconscious by an alchemy transmutation."

A dozen questions leapt up Alphonse's throat, yet he needed more information before asking them, so simply hummed to let Mustang know he was listening.

"He was rushed to Central Hospital," the colonel continued. "And was believed to be Edward Elric, which is why they contacted me about his condition."

"Why did they think he was Ed?" Alphonse asked, unable to rein in his confusion.

"Because the boy looks like Ed's identical twin with only a few slight differences." Alphonse reeled back in surprise. "We think he used alchemy to change his hair color and other cosmetics to resemble Ed."

Annoyance and regret strained Mustang's voice as he explained, "No one realized the imposter wasn't Fullmetal until we arrived at the hospital, and I and Lieutenant Hawkeye ran into the boy in the hallway. I guess he woke up, was told we were coming and realized we would notice he wasn't Ed, so was trying to leave before we arrived."

"Did he hurt you?" Alphonse asked, guilt simmering in his heart because it would be his fault if the colonel got hurt while fighting this imposter that had somehow been created by his time travel.

"No," Mustang assured, "And we couldn't land a hit on him either. He was too fast."

Alphonse took a steadying breath and released it slowly, composing himself. "Okay, and I'm guessing you haven't found the imposter yet?"

"Unfortunately, no." Mustang's voice hardened. "Though officers across Amestris are on the lookout for the boy and Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is running an investigation to find out the imposter's true identity."

Alphonse took another steadying breath and pulled the receiver away, needing a moment because this wasn't supposed to happen and he had no idea how his actions led to someone impersonating his brother. Yet now the entire military was searching for this imposter, an action that could cause countless changes to the timeline...

The boy pressed the phone back to his ear, hiding his panic while he said, "Alright, so you want me and Brother to be on the lookout for this imposter?"

"Yes, and be careful if you do run into him," Mustang warned sternly. "We don't know what this guy wants or what he'll do if he sees Ed."

Alphonse tensed, realizing Ed and Al might be in danger right now. After all, the imposter had disappeared yesterday morning, which gave him plenty of time to catch a train out of Central and head perhaps to Liore. Maybe the imposter was only minutes away from the city...

"Okay," Alphonse said with a barely noticeable hitch, "I'll tell Brother the second he comes back." His hand arched on top of the bed, nails scratching at the sheets. Ed and Al were in danger because of him and he needed to warn them now.

"Thank you," Mustang said, and Alphonse mentally begged him to hang up already. "I'll spend a little longer in Central to see if I can learn anything else about the imposter, and I'll call you back if we find anything."

"Alright," Alphonse said a bit tersely, "And I'll call you if Brother and I see him."

"Sounds like a plan," Mustang agreed, and Alphonse was going to give a farewell when he added. "Also, tell your brother there's something else I'd like to talk to him about once he's in East City, so he better not skip out on turning in his report."

Alphonse nodded. "Sure, I will. Have a safe trip, Colonel."

"Same to you, and goodbye, Alphonse."

"Bye," the teen said, then swiftly hung up the phone and reached for his crutch. He stood with it, heart racing and breathing audible while he hurried to the door.

Ed and Al might be in danger, and he needed to warn them about the imposter before he attacked them or something else unexpected happened. Clearly the past was changing no matter how much Alphonse tried to keep it the same, and something told him most of these changes weren't going to lead to anything good, so he shoved open his door and walked as fast as he could not the hallway.

His eyes narrowed determinedly while he turned the corner and breezed into the lobby. He wouldn't allow Ed to get hurt because of his actions or lose the happy ending he had earned.

Alphonse burst out the hotel and nearly crashed into a young couple strolling past, but he didn't bother apologizing as he went around them because the future was falling apart and it was all his fault.

Ed wondered how things had ended up like this when it started off so great. First, they found Rose almost immediately after Father Cornello's ceremony, and while they had disagreed greatly about Letoism, the girl remained rather friendly and polite throughout their conversation. Even better, she had shrieked with joy upon seeing Dawnie and quickly agreed to take in the feline.

"It's just my fiancé..." Rose didn't look up as she petted the purring kitten in her arms. "He loved cats." Her eyes grew unfocused and she seemed to stare through Dawnie. "He would leave bowls of food out for the strays..." Her hand stilled while her face became downcast.

However, Rose quickly regained her cheery disposition as she lead them into the stone passage beneath the church to meet Father Cornello.

Ed had been in a good mood also when he entered the grand, dimly lit room Cornello was supposed to meet them in right up till a spear was shoved across his chest. Still, it had been easy enough to take out Cornello's goons, and Ed was still hopeful he could learn the secret behind Cornello's ring even once the man told Rose to pick up the gun.

The safety clicked off the revolver, Dawnie falling out of Rose's hands with a yelp while she aimed the revolver at Ed's head. Yet when she pulled the trigger her shaking hands caused her to shoot off Al's helmet instead. Dawnie had jumped a foot in the air from the sound while the girl seemed shellshocked upon seeing Al's empty armor.

Now Ed thought that was the end of the havoc, but Cornello smiled cruelly down at them from the top of the stone stage. "Do you still doubt it, Rose?" he asked, stepping back and placing his ringed hand against the stone wall.

"This unholy thing is an abomination." He gestured towards Al as red lightning sparked around his hand and a short hole opened up in the wall behind him. "Evil of this kind must be purged."

Ed's eyes narrowed, thinking the man was going to escape out the hole, but Cornello reached into the dark space and dragged something out in front of him.

Al gasped and Rose's eyes widened, her hands going over her mouth. However, it took Ed a second to make out what Cornello was holding under the dim orange glow of the lanterns along the wall. Was that a person?

Golden eyes stared intently into Ed's and his heart stopped. It couldn't be...no way...

Yet that was undoubtedly Alphonse on his knees at Cornello's feet, his body trembling from the exertion of staying upright, hands bound tightly behind him, a gag wrapped around his mouth, and a red hand-shaped bruise on his left cheek.

Ed's teeth clenched, hands curling into fists while rage twisted his face and he seethed. "Let him go."

Cornello smirked. "So you do know this boy?" He pulled out his cane from behind him and laid his ringed hand over it, red sparks flashing over the metal as it bulged and warped. "When my followers ran into him outside the church they thought he was you." The transmutation faded to reveal his cane was now a machine gun. "But soon we realized he must be a relative of yours, perhaps another brother."

Ed stepped forward, his automail leg clanking harshly against the stone ground while his eyes burned like molten gold as he glared. "If you hurt him—"

"That depends." Cornello aimed the machine gun at Alphonse's head and the future Elric's eyes slid over to it, narrowing. "On what you do."

"Father...why..." Rose whispered, violet eyes dazed and lost.

"Like I said, they're incorrigible heathens who have come here to tear apart our sacred order." Cornello reached back and pulled a lever on the wall.

Ed turned, hearing a hidden door open, and a lion with luminous yellow eyes emerged from the shadowy corner of the room. However, as it prowled towards them, he noticed its hind legs were gray and feathery, feet scaly like a bird's while its tail was long and reptilian. A chimera?

Dawnie hissed at the lionlike creature, her ears laying flat against her head while she backed up towards Al, probably realizing she couldn't fight the larger predator.

"You're going to stay still and let my chimera tear you to pieces, Elric Brothers." Cornello sneered. "Or your twin is going to lose his head."

The man's machine gun clinked as he raised it closer to Alphonse and the boy lurched forward, muffled words erupting from behind his gag. Yet Cornello caught his hoodie collar and pulled him back. Clearly Alphonse wanted Ed to ignore the false priest, and Ed's hands flexed, itching to transmute a weapon when the chimera snarled at him. However, Cornello would kill Alphonse, murder his little brother, if he tried to defend himself. So what could he do?

"Brother?" Al asked, glancing from him to Alphonse while he stepped in front of Rose to shield her from the chimera.

"It's okay," Ed said, mind whirring as the lionlike animal bent down in preparation to pounce. There had to be a way out of this without getting Alphonse killed, and he needed to think of it fast because he was sure even if he let the chimera kill him, Cornello would shoot Alphonse anyway.

Ed looked back at the future Elric and saw anxiousness staining his face. He wanted to assure Alphonse everything was okay, but then the chimera opened its jaw wide and lunged towards his neck.

Alphonse was almost at the Leto church when he ran into trouble. A man wearing a black uniform that identified him as one of Cornello's followers grabbed his shoulder, saying, "Fullmetal Alchemist, we need you to come with us."

The teen sighed and turned to the man. "I'm not the Fullmetal Alchemist." He gestured towards his crutch and the man blinked, seeming to just notice Alphonse's gaunt face and frail appearance—not exactly common traits of a State Alchemist.

The Elric pulled free of his grip, sure the man had gotten the point, and continued hurrying to the church looming behind a park with a tall silver fountain. However, Cornello's follower called, "Wait!"

The teen didn't respond because Brother and his past self were in danger and he needed to tell them about the imposter, yet he was forced to stop when the man again caught his arm. "You're not the Fullmetal Alchemist, so you must be his brother."

Alphonse glared back, frustration born from his worry over Ed leaking into his voice as he said, "No, I'm not. Now please leave me alone." He tried pulling away, but the man's grip tightened, his eyes narrowing.

"I think you are one of the Elric brothers." The man gazed across the street to where a couple of other men dressed in the same black uniform stood and waved them over. "And Father Cornello would like to see you—"

Alphonse flipped over his caught arm, grabbed his captor's elbow, and yanked down. The man cried out as he was tossed harshly to his knees, his shoulder likely dislocated from the force of Alphonse's throw.

"Sorry," the Elric said, releasing him and moving back, "But I'm in a hurry." He frowned, seeing the two men Cornello's follower had beckoned running across the street towards him.

Alphonse backed up until he hit a wall while one of the men pulled out a silver revolver. "Alright, kid, you're coming with us—"

The Elric clapped his hands and slapped them against the wooden wall, the transmutation sparking as the men's eyes widened before wooden fists shot out around Alphonse and soared to their faces.

All three of them collapsed, bruises already forming on their heads and a couple of teeth missing from their mouth. He felt a little bad hurting them, but doubted Cornello merely wanted to talk to him, and he was certain the past would only change even more if he spoke to the priest.

Some people on the street gawked at Alphonse while he transmuted the wall back to normal, though he didn't even glance at them as he resumed hurrying to the church. His crutch clacked loudly against the sidewalk and his breathing grew heavy, but he didn't stop until he reached the tall staircase leading to the church doors. Alphonse leaned against the railing for a second, panting with sweat running down his face. He wiped the sweat away and pushed himself up right as he sensed someone behind him.

The Elric whipped back, clapping his hands. Yet he was a fraction too slow and the burly man caught his wrists. Alphonse's knees shook as his crutch clattered to the ground and he opened his mouth to speak when the man backhanded him and his vision went black.

He opened his eyes what couldn't have been more than a minute later and saw the church floor, his body dangling over the burly man's shoulder. His hands twitched, but rope scratched against his wrists with little give in the binding while a cloth was tied firmly around his mouth.

Alphonse's gaze sharpened. However, he doubted he could escape the man's hold so he stayed motionless as he was carried downstairs into a familiar underground passage and brought to a large room.

Cornello stood at the top of a platform between two staircases in the poorly lit area and the burly man brought him to the priest.

"Very good." Cornello smiled cruelly. "If things don't go well, we can use him." He eyed Alphonse like he was an ant. "Put him in."

Alphonse glimpsed a hole in the wall behind him a second before he was thrown into it. His body slammed into the stone, eliciting a sharp cry from him while a red transmutation sparked over the hole, sealing it and leaving him in complete darkness. He breathed heavily, anxiousness and regret swirling within him because again the past was being altered due to his recklessness.

Yet there wasn't much time for lamenting as he heard the faint sound of voices outside. The teen assumed it was his brother and past self talking to Cornello, so pushed aside his regret while his fingers arched to tug at the rope around his wrists. He pulled and pulled, though the rope scraped his skin, until some of the binding gave way and he could move his hands. He turned his palms towards each other, ignoring the sting of rope burn. Now if he clapped—

Red electricity erupted beside him and Alphonse's eyes closed reflexively from the light. However, as he opened them, a hand grabbed his hoodie collar and dragged him out, depositing him on the stone floor. He looked up and saw Cornello smirking and followed the man's gaze over to Ed who looked stunned. No, no, no, this was bad.

Alphonse's instincts proved right when Cornello aimed his machine gun at his head, the chimera was released, and Ed stayed rooted in the spot while the beast lumbered towards him. Ed's eyes were darting around, body tense as he searched for a way to survive without risking Alphonse's life, and the future Elric's hands itched to start a transmutation. Yet Cornello would shoot him before the alchemical reaction was done, so he needed a distraction.

Alphonse looked to his younger self and saw Al was already staring at him, so he gazed pointedly at the agitated kitten prowling around Al's feet. Come on, younger me, you know what to do...

Al was still a moment, then sent him a subtle nod, and though Alphonse was too far to hear him, he was pretty sure Al whispered an apology before stepping on Dawnie's tail right as the chimera sprung towards Ed.

Dawnie screeched, jumping up with her claws extended as she landed on the chimera's back. The lionlike creature roared in pain and Ed, seeing the opportunity, raised his automail arm to block the chimera's teeth.

"No!" Cornello shouted, enraged, and whipped towards Alphonse, pulling the machine gun trigger. Yet Alphonse had already clapped his hands and his palms were slamming onto the ground, a thick stone slab arching over him as the bullets came rushing at his head.

"Alphonse!" Ed screamed over the pounding of bullets striking Alphonse's wall, causing dust to cloud the air around them while some of the stone was obliterated by the onslaught.

The future Elric took advantage of the cover created by the dust and clapped his hands, hitting the ground again so the earth started rolling like ocean waves. Cornello shouted and his feet skidded loudly as he lost his balance and fell. Alphonse quickly performed a transmutation before he could get back up, and the ground rose beneath him, shooting up like a pillar from an angle until he was above the entrance of the room.

"I'll catch you!" Al shouted below him, his arms open wide, and Alphonse looked down to see the chimera laying on its side unconscious while Ed was dragging a stunned Rose to the door, Dawnie bundled under his arm.

Alphonse quickly slid off the pillar and dropped into his past self's metal arms, wincing a bit from the impact.

"Got you!" Al said, rushing him over to the doors.

"Stop!" Cornello shouted, firing his machine gun at them.

"Brother!" Alphonse tried shouting through his gag, losing sight of Ed as Al turned to shield him from the spray of bullets.

However, a sharp scream echoed over the firing and Alphonse's heart clenched. He raised his head to look behind Al, but his younger self suddenly reached for the doors, tearing them open.

"Go first, Brother!" Al shouted over the bullets and Alphonse's eyes widened as his brother shuffled towards the exit, bright red blood staining his gloved hand.

Yet it was the sight of Rose's white dress streaked with scarlet under Ed's hand while she leaned heavily against his side that made him choke.

"Put Alphonse in your armor and carry Rose!" Ed ordered, slamming the doors shut behind them and making several of Cornello's followers garbed in white uniform regard them curiously.

"Okay!" Al took off his head and fear struck Alphonse like a dagger as he was lifted over the dark recess of the armor.

Alphonse's startled cry went unheard while he was lowered hastily inside, his bound hands hitting the chest plate while his head fell under a familiar blood seal. The teen's heart raced as Al jammed his helmet back on and he was thrown into almost complete darkness, memories of being trapped in the unfeeling, armored body cropping up like weeds until the legs beneath him started moving fast and jolted him back into reality.

The armor clacked around Alphonse while his younger self ran, men shouting threats all around them before their voices warped into startled or pained yells and the crackle of multiple transmutations rang over the chaos. Though under all the noise, Alphonse heard a voice whispering.

"—he loved animals," Rose exhaled like she was drifting to sleep, the metal of Al's chest plate the only barrier between them. "Especially cats...was going to buy me one the morning before he..."

Her words stopped and a chill ran down Alphonse's spine, horror filling his eyes as the chaotic sounds of battle faded into the distance.

"Rose?" Al asked, slowing to a jog while a numbness spread across Alphonse's skin and he suddenly became very dizzy.

His younger self came to a halt and again called. "Rose?"

There was no response, and Alphonse knew what that meant as his vision darkened and his brother's voice drifted from somewhere nearby while his eyes fell close against his will.

Alphonse woke up in a hospital bed and immediately threw himself up, though his aching body protested and his arms shook as he leaned on them.

"Al?" Ed stood from the wooden chair at his bedside, his red coat and black pants in perfect shape like he hadn't even been in a fight today.

Yet Alphonse knew everything he remembered really happened, so frantically asked, "Where's Rose?" He looked left to the other hospital bed, and finding it empty, swiveled back to his brother.

Ed grimaced, eyes falling down. "She's in surgery..." Alphonse paled, gripping the bed railing to steady himself. "They're trying to remove the bullet from her leg." His brow wrinkled, realization dawning on his face. "This didn't happen in your time—"

"How did she get hurt?" Alphonse interrupted, shock and fear shimmering in his golden irises, and Ed swallowed his words as he noticed the fragility of the future Elric's expression.

"When Cornello fired his machine gun at us," Ed sighed, running his hand through his bangs. "Dawnie got startled by the sound and ran out from behind the wall I transmuted, so Rose went to grab her and got hit by three bullets."

Guilt pierced Alphonse's chest and he looked down, shaking his head slowly. "She got shot because of Dawnie..." Tears welled in the corner of his eyes, face screwing up as he gripped his head. "And I'm the one who brought Dawnie on the train—"

"It wasn't your fault, Alphonse," Ed said sternly, leaning down to get in his brother's face. "You couldn't have known—"

"How can it be anything but my fault!?" Alphonse's head whipped up, tears rolling down his cheek, and Ed reeled back in shock. "Rose was fine in my timeline, and the only difference between this version of the past and mines is me!" His chest heaved, breath burning his lungs and making him pant before he could shout. "This is all my fault!"

Ed grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Al, she's going to be fine." His voice softened, sympathy weaving into his expression. "The doctor only needs to get one bullet out and then she'll spend maybe a month recovering—"

"You don't understand," Alphonse said brokenly, head bowing and hands sliding down to grip the bedsheets. "Even if she's okay, I have no idea what this change will cause to the future. I might have ruined everything, I might have ruined our future..."

Alphonse stopped, breathing labored, and Ed bit his lip, seeing Alphonse's point. However, there was no way the younger Elric could have predicted that bringing one cat to Liore would cause Rose to get hurt. Also, nothing could change what had happened so Alphonse blaming himself wouldn't help anyone.

Ed went to explain this when the door opened behind him and Al stepped into the room.

"Oh!" Al said, voice brightening as he gazed at his future self. "You're awake, but we thought your concussion might keep you out for the whole—"

"What time is it?" Alphonse asked quietly between two deep breaths and Al's armor clanked as he stepped back in surprise.

"Uh, it's sunset so around—"

"We need to leave Liore now."

Ed blinked and Al seemed taken aback by the boy's terseness. Alphonse raised a trembling arm, swiping it over his eyes while he raised his head to reveal dull, golden eyes. "We can't miss the next train out of Liore or the future will change even more than it has."

Al shifted uncomfortably. "But we won't know Rose's condition for another hour."

"You revealed Cornello's deceit to everyone in the city, right?" Alphonse asked tonelessly, expression worn and tired.

Ed nodded. "Yeah, but I think you should take some time to rest..." He stopped as Alphonse reached for the crutch by the bed and dragged himself to the side like he didn't even hear him.

Al regarded Ed, his concern audible though his helmet had no expression, and the eldest nodded to show he shared his worry. He turned back to Alphonse while he stood, his legs wobbling dangerously for a moment before he steadied himself, though his breathing was still a little too fast.

"Let's go," Alphonse urged softly, gaze on the floor as he slowly walked out the room with a pinched expression.

Ed wanted to say something, but he had a feeling nothing he said would reach Alphonse, so he shut his mouth and quietly followed his brother into the hall.

The sky was midnight blue when they departed from the hospital, the starlight bleaching Ed and Alphonse's hair a pale blond while it glimmered off of Al's armor. Liore's train station wasn't as grand as Central's, with only one lone ticket booth next to its sole functioning lamp while the two lamps between the benches flickered and one light was out entirely.

Alphonse sat under the unlit bulb on a bench by himself, expression forlorn and white hood draped over his eyes, though he might have simply put it on because of the midnight chill. Ed wanted to talk to him, but Alphonse looked like he wanted to be alone, and he'd noticed the future Elric wasn't the only one in a somber mood.

Ed's eyes rolled over to Al beside him, his helmet bowed and body motionless as it had been for the past twenty minutes. He soon decided to give Alphonse some time to cool off while he looked up at Al and said, "I'm sure Rose will be okay." He forced a little cheer into his voice. "And she won't have to recover alone since you gave her Dawnie."

The youngest Elric didn't move for a second, yet soon gazed down at him and said, "I know..." He sighed. "But it's my fault she—"

"Get that idea out of your head now." Al started, hearing the vehemence in Ed's voice and seeing his hard expression. "Don't blame yourself for not being faster or because you brought Dawnie to Liore, the only person at fault here is Cornello."

Al shook his head. "But I'm the one that gave her Dawnie! If I had just listened to you on the train or this morning then Rose never would have been hurt!"

Ed's brow knitted together, realizing Al was feeling guilty for almost the same reason Alphonse was—they really were the same person, huh?

The eldest brushed aside his musing and crossed his arms, sighing in defeat. "Fine, you want to blame someone so badly, then you can blame me."

He gaze grew stern and resolute while Al's breath hitched in shock. "Blame you?" Confusion saturated his voice. "But you tried to stop me from keeping Dawnie."

"Yeah, I told you to leave her, yet I never made you." Ed shook his head. "If I really wanted to, I could have made you leave the cat at one of the train stops, but I didn't."

"Still, it's not your fault—"

"Then it's not your fault either." Ed smirked and Al grasped the point he was trying to make.

The younger boy sighed. "Okay, I guess you're right, Brother." A muted sadness dampened his voice. "I just hope Rose is okay and that Dawnie will be happy." He blinked, suddenly remembering something. "Oh, I never told Alphonse that Dawnie was staying with Rose." He stood up and turned to Alphonse, but gasped.

Ed turned to where he was looking. "What is—"

A vacant bench under the unlit lamp greeted him.

Ed leapt out of his seat, eyes wide. "Alphonse?" he whispered before quickly raising his voice. "Alphonse?" He looked all around the train station, yet no one was in sight. Alphonse couldn't have been attacked by someone, they would have heard a struggle, which meant—

"He ran away," Al said quietly, hands wringing together nervously. "He looked so upset about Rose earlier and he's been really worried about all the changes he's been making to the future, so he must have left...to not be a burden."

Ed's heart thudded, and he started moving around the station rapidly, scanning the ticket booth which was dark inside since the man running it had left. "Search the area," he urged, though it was unnecessary as Al was already hurrying towards the treeline on the right.

The eldest Elric ran to the treeline on the opposite side, squinting past the dark shadows of bushes and trees. He couldn't see anything and he only heard crickets. How did Alphonse leave without them noticing? And how could he let this happen—

"Brother!"

Ed's head snapped towards Al and he spotted a young man in front of his brother, standing under the shade of a tree branching out of the forest. The older Elric rushed over to Al, quickly noticing the young man wasn't thin enough to be Alphonse, so must be a stranger.

"Who are..." Ed stopped, seeing the boy's golden hair pulled back in a ponytail, and a familiar navy blue shirt with black pants.

Wide golden eyes looked from Ed to Al and Ed suddenly knew exactly who was before him.

Edward Elric, sixteen-years old and from over a year in the future, gazed back at them in stunned amazement.

Come on, you guys knew this was going to happen eventually. Edward has officially entered 1914 for reasons he'll explain next chapter.

Next time we'll see how the dynamics change now that Edward is here and see just how much the timeline has screwed up future events.

See you guys in two weeks!

Revised: 10/2/21