Sorry for taking longer than usual to update this, but college midterms and a case of writer's block kept me really busy.
Anyway, thanks for all the support! I appreciate all you readers so much!
Alphonse slid off the bed, clapped his hands, and crouched to lay his sparking palms on the floor. Alchemy flared and Al yelped, leaning away, while Ed shouted when the floorboards rose up around the future Elrics to form a rectangular box between the two beds.
"If we're going to do this," Alphonse rose to a stand in the darkness, his expression grave, "We have to act now and we can't mess up, not even a little." He grasped the wall, leaning on it since he'd forgotten his crutch. "And whatever we're going to do has to start now."
"First," Edward said from the shadows ahead, sounding contemplative. "I'm going to send our friends in the future a letter letting them know I need more time to find you." His cloak rustled as he probably shrugged. "I just have to alter the time travel array to compensate for inorganic material, and add some of my blood to direct the letter to my blood sample in the future."
Alphonse nodded before realizing his brother couldn't see it. "Yes," he agreed. "We should stay here for at least three and a half more days. I think we found out about Nina's death on the third day after we met her," his face fell at the memory, "But if we save her, we'll need some time to make sure she'll be taken care of once we're gone."
Edward hummed, probably already brainstorming ideas. Alphonse quickly did the same since they only had minutes to think up a plan before their past selves went to Tucker's place. So think, Alphonse, think. How can you stop Nina from dying without drastically changing the timeline? Hmm...well, maybe he should examine all the ways Nina's death had impacted their lives and see if there was any way for those events to still happen without her dying.
Alphonse considered it. A moment later, he grimaced.
"I'm sick of watching people die!"
Lust's claws rushed toward his face like vipers, pieces of his armor clattering to the ground.
"I can't just sit back and take it anymore!"
He frowned at the memory, admitting, "I might never have gained the will to protect Lieutenant Hawkeye from Lust if Nina hadn't died..."
His heartbeat stuttered because if Nina didn't die, did that mean Lieutenant Hawkeye would? Considering how much help the lieutenant was with stopping Father and the number of other things she'd done for them, losing her wasn't an option.
"I…" Edward sighed, just as reluctantly saying, "I might not have been able to get you back from the gate if I hadn't learned a certain lesson from Nina's death."
Alphonse winced, his brother likely doing the same while they both realized how many things could go wrong if Nina lived. He'd known of course the girl's passing left a distinct imprint on his heart, but hearing the valuable lessons it taught them both out loud really emphasized... Wait. Lessons?
"That's it!" Alphonse cried and sensed his brother stare at him. "We're thinking of this the wrong way! It's not Nina livingthat's the issue, but the lessons we won't learn if she lives!"
Edward gasped. "You're right," hope shone through his voice, "So we just need to find a way for our past selves to learn the same lessons without Nina dying."
Alphonse froze, balking. "No, Brother," he said fearfully. "We have to keep everything almost exactly the same to the smallest detail." His gaze dropped, voice falling to a whisper. "I learned the hard way how one little change to the timeline can alter events drastically..."
Edward grew quiet. Then he asked, "You mean like with Rose?"
Alphonse shrunk into himself. "Ed told you about that?"
His brother sighed. "Yeah, Al, but no matter how it happened, it was an accident."
Suddenly a hand emerged out of the darkness and fumbled over Alphonse's shirt before sliding up to find his shoulder. "Don't worry," his brother said from much closer. "This time we're going to be careful." He gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Nobody is going to get hurt."
Yet Alphonse shook his head, fear strangling his voice. "How can you be sure?"
A shiver ran up his spine while he imagined saving Nina and drawing the girl protectively into his arms, only to look down and find his body unraveling like paper, the gate stealing it away once more.
"Should we really be doing this?" he asked, hating himself for hesitating because a little girl's life was at stake. Wasn't her life more important than a body he could technically live without? Though it might just kill him to return to those lonely nights so soon after thinking they were finally over.
Edward's hand tensed, and Alphonse was going to apologize for being selfish. Nina's life was more importa—
"No."
Alphonse's eyes widened while Edward said, "I'm not sure...but I won't be able to live with myself if I don't try, can you?"
Alphonse inhaled sharply, just making out his brother's determined eyes as he added, "Besides, us simply existing in this time might have already changed the circumstances of Nina's death. I mean, our past selves arrived in East City twelve hours later than they should have." His voice tightened with worry and rage. "And that slight change might cause Tucker to transmute her later or earlier—"
"Or not at all because we weren't at his house yesterday," Alphonse gasped, heartbeat picking up because what if Nina was already dead due to the changes they'd caused?
"That's why I'm going with our past selves to Tucker's." Alphonse jolted, looking to his brother. "I'll make sure everything goes exactly as it's supposed to, and yes, me being there will also cause changes, but if events connected to Nina are already warped I'll at least be nearby to do some damage-control."
Alphonse nodded, seeing his brother's point. "Okay...and what should I do?"
"You can be my backup," a smirk colored Edward's voice, "In case anything goes wrong that I can't handle. Though you shouldn't let Tucker see you or that will change the timeline even more—"
Alchemy sparked beside them. Edward ripped his hand back to shield his eyes while Alphonse turned away, hissing at the blinding light. However, the wall disappeared under his hand.
His eyes popped open as he tilted to the side, gasping.
"Oh!" Al caught him under the arms, settling him back on his feet. "Are you okay?"
"What was that about?" Ed demanded, lowering his hands from where he'd deconstructed Alphonse's box and glaring at Edward. "What has you guys so freaked out? And what were you doing in that box?"
Edward turned to him and crossed his arms. "I'll tell you when we can speak on the same..." He smirked. "Level."
"I am not so small I could sleep in a shoebox like it was a king-sized bed!"
"Shoebox?" Edward cocked a brow. "You'd be lucky not to get lost on a microscope slide!"
Ed's face turned scarlet, the boy raising a fist and roaring, "YOU—"
Alphonse suddenly realized what his brother was doing, that he was giving him time to put their plan into motion, so he grabbed his crutch off the wall and looked to his younger self. "I need to talk to you." He inclined his head towards the door.
Al seemed surprised, yet nodded. He walked past his ranting brother who was getting in Edward's face while Alphonse quickly followed.
"SAYS THE GUY WHO'S SHORTER THAN HIS YOUNGER BROTHE—"
"FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I'LL END YOU, ALCHEMY FREAK!"
"WE'RE BOTH ALCHEMY FREAKS, YOU MORON!"
Alphonse shut the door on the Eds' screaming match, checked both ways to make sure they were alone, and once he saw the hall was clear, he looked to Al.
"You've decided to alter the timeline," his past self said before he could speak.
Alphonse gaped, but soon he slumped over his crutch with a resigned smile. "I really know myself too well." His eyes narrowed and he straightened. "Does Ed know?"
Al shrugged. "He probably suspects it, but I don't think he's caught on yet."
"Good." Alphonse frowned. "The less you guys know, the better our chances of succeeding." His gaze softened. "Look, I can't tell you about what we're doing except if all goes well you'll understand everything in a year."
Alphonse raised his hand, watching the skin stretch over his bony knuckle as it curled into a fist. "But you deserve to know I'm doing this to save somebody's life...though it might cost us our own, if not ruin your chance of getting your body back." He stared mournfully at Al and knocked his fist reassuringly on his chest plate. "If...if you don't get your body back, it will be my fault...and we'll both have to pay the price."
He bowed his head, eyes squeezing shut while he lowered his hand. "So if you decide not to help me, I completely understand." He swallowed, throat closing up as he whispered. "I know the nights are starting to become too much, that it feels like you're just a ghost trapped in a silent world every single night, and trust me," he hissed through his teeth, "Risking it all scares me too."
Al made a quiet noise of surprise, probably startled to hear his own feelings voiced by another person when he'd mostly kept them to himself. However, the younger boy soon stilled, and Alphonse raised his head to find an unreadable suit of armor.
He assumed Al was deep in thought, so jumped when the armored boy asked, "What are you going to do now that you have a body?"
Alphonse's eyes widened as Al cocked his head. "And I don't mean the whole eating apple pie and building your strength back up thing, but what are you planning to do with the rest of your life?" He set his hand under his helmet, contemplating. "It's just, after seeing you in your body, I realized I don't have any goals for what comes next. I never planned past 'get your body back and be normal again', you know."
Alphonse nodded, comprehension dawning on his face while Al mused. "Will I return to Resembool? Or move to a city like Central? Will I study other fields of alchemy? Or further what I'm already good at? Should I teach others about alchemy…become a teacher? A researcher? Professor maybe? Will I..."
His voice quieted and shook reverently as he whispered, "Will I start my own family?" His metal hand clenched in front of his chest. "There's just so many possibilities now that you have your body, and yet you're willing to risk all of that?"
Alphonse's eyes widened before they fell to the floor. For a while, the only sound was the Edwards' muffled yelling and what was probably furniture being thrown in the room.
Yet Al waited patiently until Alphonse took a deep breath, lifted his eyes, and said, "I want to get married and have two kids."
Al gasped, fist dropping in shock while Alphonse smiled. "I don't care if they're girls, boys, brother and sister, I just want there to be two so they'll always have someone who will be at their side."
His expression grew tender, hand falling to his pants pocket where a certain letter laid. "And I'm going to study alkahestry in Xing under May's tutelage once I'm physically capable."
He frowned, thinking. "Though I'll definitely visit Amestris to check up on Brother sometimes, and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble." His lips curved into a cheeky grin. "And that him and Winry are getting along."
His smiled faded, expression becoming serious. "Once I've learned all I can in Xing, I'll return to Amestris and start utilizing alkahestry's healing abilities."
Al reeled back, picking up his meaning. "You want to become a doctor?"
Alphonse nodded. "Yes, I want to help people with my alchemy." He smiled a bit sadly. "Like Aunt Sara and Uncle Urey did."
He turned away, voice softening. "So yeah, that's what I want to do with my life. Get married, have kids, get a job, retire in Resembool, watch the grandkids grow up, and just...just be normal."
Silence rang in the corridor. Then—
"That sounds wonderful," Al sighed longingly.
However, Alphonse's fingers tapped nervously on his crutch handle, the teen unsure if his younger self was swayed by his words or more determined not to risk losing the chance to retrieve his body.
"I'll help you."
Alphonse's head snapped up as Al said, "If this thing is that important to you, it's that important to me, so tell me how I can help."
Hope sparked in Alphonse's eyes, face brightening. "Well, first," his smile curled into a smirk, "I'm going to need your body."
Al jolted. "Huh?"
The older Elric was going to explain, but Al grasped his head and sighed, "Why do I feel like this was Brother's idea?"
Alphonse blinked, yet soon released a nervous chuckle because considering the impulsiveness of his plan, it might as well be.
Ed's chest heaved, his gaze locked on his older self who was glaring back with his fists raised. Sweat ran down his face, but he ignored it and swiftly went to clap his hands. Yet he couldn't form a ring as the older Elric swung at him.
He dodged under his arm, but Edward's hand changed trajectory in a heartbeat and he could only wonder—how did I get so fast in the future?—before a fist collided with his chin.
Ed flew back with a cry, the pain barely registering while his body tensed in anticipation of smashing into the bedroom door. However, he passed through the doorway and crashed against something softer that gave a startled grunt as hands caught his sides.
"Ow…"
He quickly realized it was a man holding him under his arms and looked up to see Mustang, his eyes twitching in pain while he set Ed on the ground.
"You elbowed me with your automail arm," the colonel croaked, rubbing the sore spot on his middle. "Now I see why Al asked me to get you two instead of coming himself."
He straightened up with a wince. However, he stilled, shock splaying across his face as he stared past Ed's shoulder.
Ed turned around and cringed at seeing the flipped over bed, broken nightstand, a vase in pieces beside the cup Alphonse had dropped, and crumbling plaster under holes in the wall behind his future self who was staring wide-eyed at the colonel.
"Umm," Edward laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't worry, my past self will fix everything."
A framed picture clattered to the ground and Edward shot it a nervous glance while Mustang pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah, he'll fix that too."
"Fullmetal—"
"What?" Edward and Ed scowled, expecting a lecture.
The colonel froze before looking rapidly between the two. Soon though, his surprise faded and he scowled.
"One of you," Mustang's voice deepened authoritatively, "Clean up this mess, and both of you better be in the car in two minutes or you can forget about meeting Tucker."
Edward's eyes narrowed at the mentioning, but Ed looked at him and his expression turned neutral. Quickly he walked past the fifteen-year old, flapping his hand lazily.
"Like I said, he's got it."
Ed glared at his older self. "You can't boss me around—"
"No," Edward spun back, hands on his sides and looking smug. "But he can." He inclined his head towards Mustang, then he turned and continued down the hall.
"Besides," he called without looking back, "I'm not Fullmetal anymore."
The colonel started. "Oh, that's right." He scratched his chin, expression thoughtful. "Guess I should just call him Edward," he muttered, walking after the boy and leaving Ed behind.
The fifteen-year old glowered. "It was his mess too," he grumbled, though he was already clapping his hands and going to the wall.
His alchemy sparked and spread across the room, sealing over the holes and repairing the broken furniture. He pulled back, gazing over the place to make sure he hadn't missed anything and grinning at the gargoyles he'd added to the bed headboard—the hotel staff ought to thank him for giving the room some personality.
He continued scanning the area and paused on the floor. His smile dropped at seeing Alphonse's cup still broken.
The Elric walked up to the broken pieces and crouched to lay his hands on them, brow furrowing as the blue lightning sparked over the ceramic and the shards melded back together.
He picked up the fixed cup and his gaze grew worried. "What scared you so bad, Alphonse?"
He stared at the cup for a moment before setting it on the nightstand, contemplation on his face. However, he noticed the clock ticking on the wall and remembered he was on a time crunch.
The teen hissed a curse under his breath and sped out the room so fast his cloak whipped at his boots. He quickly jogged through the lobby and exited out to the sidewalk where a black military escort vehicle was waiting.
He pulled open the car door, but stilled when he noticed Al alone in the seats across from Edward and Mustang.
"Where's Alphonse?" he asked, hesitating to get in.
"He left to the library," Al answered a little too quickly.
Ed frowned, but got into the car and shut the door. "By himself? We could have dropped him off."
His frown deepened, not liking the idea of Alphonse being out alone in his condition. However, his alchemy was on the same level as Ed's—if not higher—so he should be okay even if he ran into trouble.
"Did he say why he's visiting the library?" Ed asked, glancing at his future self since he had a feeling whatever he and Alphonse had discussed in that box was related to Alphonse's departure.
However, Edward wasn't facing him, but was staring at the driver who Ed now noticed was familiar. "Oh, Lieutenant Hawkeye—"
"She didn't drive us last time," Edward whispered, turning to glare at the floor. "So my guess was correct, things have already changed because we're a day late."
Ed's brow rose, picking up that the lieutenant's presence was a discrepancy in the timeline. "Is that why you're coming?" His future self's jaw clenched. "To make sure nothing too serious changes when we meet Mr. Tucker?"
Edward grimaced. "That's part of it," he said tightly.
Ed's gaze sharpened. "And what's the other part?"
The older boy smirked, though it was forced. "Wouldn't you like to know."
He was going to argue when Mustang cleared his throat and held up a manilla folder. "As interesting as watching a spat between you two shrimps is—"
"Shrimp!?" Edward erupted before Ed could, rounding on Mustang. "Are you already blind, old man!? I'm almost as tall as you!"
The colonel stared cooly at him. "A shrimp that's grown is still a shrimp."
He smirked while Edward's eye twitched, gaze fiery. Yet suddenly the Elric's expression calmed and Mustang blinked.
"That won't work on me." Edward stuck his nose in the air. "Since I'm not as short-tempered as I used to be."
Ed gritted his teeth, hearing the implication, but couldn't speak as a voice cut in. "Colonel, I advise you not to rile up either Edward while I'm driving." She stared hard at them through the rearview mirror. "Unless you want the vehicle damage to come out of your pay again."
Mustang deflated, pouting, but the Elrics stiffened.
"You told her about the time travel?" Edward looked sharply at Mustang. "Didn't my past self tell you how dangerous that is?"
Mustang straightened up, expression growing serious. "Yes," he said unperturbed. "But if you recall, the lieutenant was there when you escaped the hospital." Edward reeled back. "So if she spotted you in East City, she would recognize you, and I doubt she'd miss this time."
Edward paled as the man crossed his arms. "I also told everyone else in our unit about your cousin Alex since they've all heard the rumors about him, but I only told them Alex resembled you, which means either you or Alphonse could claim to be Alex if you cross paths with the team."
Ed squinted and stared disbelieving at him. "That's awfully smart of you."
The colonel glared, teeth clenching. "Why do you sound so surprised about that?"
Ed was going to respond when he noticed brown eyes narrowing in the rearview mirror, and not wanting to incur the lieutenant's wrath, he said, "Uhh, so what's the deal with Tucker?"
Edward looked away and Mustang raised a brow at the change in subject, but answered. "Well, according to his file," he opened the folder on his lap, "Two years ago Tucker transmuted a chimera that could understand human speech—"
"And that earned him his state certification as an alchemist," Edward cut in, making Roy and Al look up in surprise while Ed blinked. "And yes, understanding human speech means the chimera could talk, but she only said one thing." His hand curled into a fist as he seethed, "I want to die."
Mustang's brow furrowed as Al and Ed gasped. For a second, no one said anything, and Edward glared at the ground.
Yet soon the colonel huffed, "Seems we've had this conversation before, and he's right." He looked to Ed. "The chimera said, 'I want to die,' and refused to eat until it got its wish."
He paused, eyes sliding to Edward. His gaze sharpened. "But why did you say 'she'?"
"What?" Edward raised his head, startled.
Mustang frowned. "You called the chimera 'she', but nothing in this file says its gender and it's been dead for years, so how did you know it was female?"
Edward swallowed, turning to stare out the window. "Clearly, I asked Tucker about her and he told me."
Mustang nodded, yet Ed noticed his future self had tensed and also...
"Is this who you were talking about at the hotel?" Ed asked, and Mustang glanced up in interest while Edward and Al stiffened. "You said 'for her it's worth the risk'."
Edward narrowed his eyes, but didn't reply, and the younger boy grew irritated because once again his future self was keeping things from him and he might know why.
"You're not...trying to change the future, are you?" Ed's expression darkened, voice a dangerous hiss. "Especially not after you lectured me about trying to change the past yesterday?"
His future self leveled a cool stare on him, and Ed was taken aback, something about his future self's look with his golden eyes and defined jaw rattling him.
Hohenheim's face flashed over Edward's visage and Ed gaped, remembering the man's cold look before he walked out the door and left his family forever.
"Alphonse wants to be a doctor."
Ed's head snapped to Al who excitedly said, "He told me once he's all healed up, he's going to learn medical alkahestry and use it to heal people. I'm going to be a doctor, Brother! Isn't that amazing?"
The fifteen-year old's brow rose because Al? A doctor? Well, Alphonse was kind-hearted and probably wouldn't use alchemy for combat once Ed accomplished his goal and left the military. Still, it was strange imagining his little brother with an actual job…yet it was also kind of nice to picture Al wearing a white coat and excitedly drawing alchemy equations in his lab or giving some kid a lollipop while healing their broken leg.
"Yeah, Al." Ed smiled warmly. "That sounds nice."
The car slowed and Mustang looked out the window as it parked on the curb. "We're here."
He pushed open the door, getting out, and Ed looked past him. His mouth dropped at the towering house behind the tall black iron gate.
Edward stepped out in front of him and Ed scowled when he blocked his sight, but held his tongue at noticing the older boy's grim expression. What was up with him? Why was he acting so strange today?
Ed knew the older Elric wouldn't answer if he asked, so simply exited the car while Al came out after him and waved back. "Bye, Lieutenant Hawkeye."
The woman nodded, turning off the car engine since she would be driving Mustang to East Headquarters after he introduced them to Tucker.
"Man, this place is huge." Ed's gaze swept across the brick house as Mustang pulled open the gate.
The man jolted though when Edward strode past and marched up the walkway. Mustang frowned at the familiar look of determination on his face before following him, Ed not noticing since he couldn't take his eyes off the house while Al similarly oohed over the home.
They reached the door, Edward pushing the bell right as a shadow dropped over Ed.
The fifteen-year old looked up. "Huh—ah!"
The shadow crashed onto him like an iron weight and he went down face first on the pavement, wheezing.
"Are you okay?" Al asked, crouching over Edward's younger self who was twitching under the large white dog, seemingly unconscious.
However, Edward's breath hitched, and Al glanced his way. "Ed?"
Edward didn't hear him, his gaze on the massive mutt who opened his muzzle to release a happy bark—
"Play with me, Big Brother?" The chimera's inhuman eyes bored into Edward's own as horror wracked his face and his fist started to tremble.
Edward's jaw clenched, throat closing up on a scream while he forced himself to turn away.
"Look, Daddy."
Edward's eyes widened.
"There are people out here."
Edward closed his eyes, heart thumping loud. That childish voice—not deep and warped into something inhuman, but innocent and girlish like it should be. It had been so long since he'd heard Nina's voice, it almost didn't feel real.
He tried taking a steadying breath, but his lungs locked up and he choked. His heart raced faster and he needed to calm down, calm down now or he wouldn't be able to save Nina.
Focus, focus…h ydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron—
His throat opened up and he inhaled a desperate breath, coughing a bit.
"Brother?" Al asked softly beside him.
Edward went to answer when a familiar face appeared in his peripheral and his head whipped around, rage sparking in his heart.
"Nina." Shou Tucker stood behind his daughter, a slight frown tugging his mouth and rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "This is why I told you to keep the dog tied up."
Edward's lips pulled back in a snarl when the man set his hand on Nina's back, his instincts screaming that he shove the man into the nearest wall and beat him senseless. However, that would ruin the timeline and endanger their chances of saving Nina, so he looked down to hide his wrathful expression.
Yet a hand landed on his shoulder and he looked up at Al. "Are you okay?" he whispered, mindful of the people nearby.
And Edward must have been more distraught than he wanted to admit because he shook his head. "No," he stared at the floor, "I'm really not." His mouth twisted with a grim smile. "But I need to do this."
Al nodded. "Okay," he said gently. "Just let me know if you need anything."
Edward's heart lifted at his brother's earnestness, the other boy not demanding an explanation for his strange actions like his younger self would have.
Edward smiled genuinely. "Thanks, Al."
A brushing against his leg made him look down to see red pigtails bouncing as Nina stopped and looked up at him with bright, curious eyes. His face filled with shock while Nina grinned toothily.
"Sorry, Alexander made me bump into you." She pouted at the dog on the end of the leash in her hand. "Bad doggie!" She waggled her finger and Alexander lowered his head in shame.
The girl frowned, dropping her hand. "Oh, I know you just want to play." She went up to the dog and stroked his head. "I want to play with someone too, but Daddy's busy and there's just me and you." She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his wide neck and turning her face into his fur.
Something cracked in Edward's heart at the sight and he bit his lip, hardly noticing Al walking ahead into the house after Mustang, Ed and Tucker. None of them paying attention to the little girl hugging her dog as her tears fell in his fur.
Edward turned to the house. His brows slanted determinedly, and with slow, decisive steps, he entered the hall. His younger self and the colonel shot him strange looks, but he was focused solely on one thought—save them.
And Edward would because he might have messed up once, but he never made the same mistake twice.
Ed sat at the long dining table across from the Life-Sewing Alchemist.
His face was curious, but hardened as Shou Tucker asked, "Now, why are you interested in bio-alchemy?"
The teen's gaze fell to the tea cup on the table and Mustang's eyes flared in alarm before he stammered. "Oh, um, Ed, you see he—"
"Colonel."
Ed stopped, and shot a look past Mustang to his future self because both of them had spoken at the same time.
However, his future self didn't even glance at him, but kept his sharp gaze on Tucker as he said, "He's interested because of me."
Mustang and Ed gaped while Al inhaled sharply, though Tucker's placid expression didn't change as Edward continued. "I performed human transmutation on my aunt, Ed and Al's mom, four years ago. However, my cousins tried to stop me and got caught in the array."
He got up from his chair and set his foot on the seat, pulling up his pants leg to reveal the silver automail underneath. "As a result I lost my leg and my alchemy is hindered, Ed lost his arm and leg, and Al lost his entire body. To restore ourselves and my alchemy, we need all the information we can get, understand?"
Tucker stared at Edward, hands folded under his chin and gaze hidden behind the gleam of his glasses. Mustang glanced at Ed, silently asking what was going on, but Ed shook his head, unsure himself what Edward was doing.
"I see." Tucker frowned, sympathy slanting his eyes. "You've had a rough time of it for someone so young."
Edward's expression didn't change, but he inclined his head and lowered his leg back to the ground.
"I can't say for sure if it's going to be of any use to you or not," Tucker stood from his seat, sounding almost tired, "But why don't you go ahead and take a look at my laboratory?"
Ed's face lit up. "That would be great." He stood alongside Mustang as Al and Edward got up to follow Tucker out the room.
The fifteen-year old was hurrying after them, but the colonel caught his shoulder in the hallway and he looked back to see Mustang's serious face. "Do you really think he's trying to alter the future?" he asked in a hushed voice, purposely falling behind the others.
Ed's mouth curved down and he eyed his older self who was chatting with Tucker about chimeras from what he could hear. "I don't know, but he's been acting weird ever since I mentioned Mr. Tucker." He crossed his arms. "I don't think he likes him."
Mustang scoffed, raising a brow. "You don't like a lot of people. He probably just called you shor—"
"Alphonse doesn't like him either." Edward stared hard at the man and Mustang's flippant expression vanished. "He got really upset when I said his name."
"Oh," the colonel looked at Tucker, "Now that says something."
Edward's brow furrowed. "Or well, maybe Al doesn't dislike him, but he got all pale and nervous when I talked about Mr. Tucker."
Mustang's face hardened. "It sounds like Alphonse has some bad memories associated with Tucker, or he reminds him of something unpleasant."
He made an annoyed sound, and Ed looked up to see Tucker holding open a pair of double doors for Edward and Al before looking over to them.
Mustang smiled politely at the man, but whispered through his teeth. "Just keep an eye on your future self, will you? I'd rather not have to deal with reality falling apart because he decided to do something reckless."
Ed wanted to tell the colonel not to worry since the future Elrics were probably leaving today, but they reached Tucker so he kept his mouth shut as they were welcomed inside the lab. Immediately his eyes found the cages containing chimeras that were screeching, gnawing on the cage bars or pacing their containers.
"Woah." He went up to the creatures, examining the mix of red reptilian skin and feathers on what looked like an otter.
"It's kind of embarrassing," Tucker said while Mustang passed him to look over the specimens in jars that Al was staring at. "I'm fairly widely regarded as an authority on chimeras, but the truth is, it hasn't actually been going well lately."
Edward turned from the book shelf he'd been rifling through and casually asked, "What about the chimera you made who could talk?" His tone was even, but Ed noticed a sharpness underlining it. "You haven't been able to recreate the process?"
Tucker's face fell, gaze shifting aside. "No, unfortunately my notes on the process were destroyed in a lab fire."
Edward glowered for a second, but soon grinned encouragingly. "Well, what about the research you did before your experiment? Like the books you read to figure out the array?"
Tucker cocked his head, squinting quizzically. "They're over here." He came up to Edward and pointed at a row of books on the middle shelf. "You can read them if you'd like. Though my notes are scribbled all over some pages."
He rubbed the back of his head embarrassedly while Edward began taking out the books.
"That's fine, I'd actually like to see your old notes." Edward flashed his teeth at the man, though his smile was too cheerful to be authentic. "They might give us a lead on how to restore our bodies."
Tucker smiled slightly, sounding flattered. "Well, if it's my notes you want to see, more of them can be found in the books in my library." He turned and started walking out the double doors. "It's right down the hall."
Edward followed the man, stack of books in his arms, and Mustang trailing them. Ed was going to join them when he noticed Al hadn't moved. He looked over his shoulder, about to call him, but stopped at seeing a blue spark fading by Al's feet.
"Al?"
The younger boy jumped, spinning back.
Ed's eyes narrowed. "Did you just transmute something?" He looked at the ground, but saw no chalk-drawn array, and his eyes narrowed further.
Yet Al shook his head. "No, I think the lights just flickered." He quickly walked past Ed and entered the hallway. "Well, we shouldn't keep Mr. Tucker waiting."
Ed stared suspiciously at Al before glancing at the laboratory floor. The ground was smooth and even, and he would have thought no transmutation had touched it, except a small spot was strangely clean like all the dust had been brushed off the surface.
The teen was tempted to investigate, but he was eager to check out Mr. Tucker's library, so sighing, he shook his head and walked out the door.
"Our ride's here." Edward stared out the window from his seat on the floor, sunset light dyeing the book in his lap golden.
Ed raised his head from where he was flattened under Alexander, hair frizzy and in disarray from his earlier attempts to best the mutt. Nina gazed curiously at his future self from her seat on Al's shoulders. However, Edward didn't even look at the girl as he got up and went to Tucker who'd just entered the library doorway.
The older Elric smiled a grin that didn't meet his eyes. "I have a question about when you transmute chimeras…"
Ed's eyes narrowed on the older teen, still wasn't sure why his future self was talking to someone he didn't seem to like. Or why he'd altered facts about their attempted human transmutation. Just why was Edward deceiving Tucker? Was he trying to get something from the man?
"I'd enjoy hearing what you come up with tomorrow." Tucker smiled slightly at his future self.
"You're really going to come again?" Nina looked down at Al excitedly, and he nodded.
"Sure." Al pulled Nina off of his shoulders and lowered her to the floor. "We'll even come earlier so we can play for longer tomorrow!" he said, voice ringing with eagerness, and Nina lit up like the sun.
"Oh, is that your daughter?"
Both Ed's eyes widened while Al's helmet snapped around.
Hughes entered the doorway, beaming at Nina. "She's adorable!" He gushed before turning to give Tucker an enthusiastic handshake, much to the alchemist's surprise. "You must be so proud to have such a precious darling, I know I am! See, I have a daughter too!
He pulled out his wallet and opened it so the family photos inside unraveled. "She's got the face of an angel, right?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes?" Al whispered, and Ed whipped back to him because there was something off with Al's voice. "What are you still doing in East City?"
Hughes' expression turned bashful. "That's a bit of a story," he rubbed the back of his head, "I'll explain in the car."
Edward composed himself, though he was still a bit wide-eyed as he nodded. "Okay."
He turned and strode out the front door. Hughes' face fell while he eyed the boy worriedly.
Ed wondered what that was about as he dragged himself out from under Alexander, but was distracted when Al helped him stand.
"Bye, Nina!" his brother said once they headed after Hughes. "And thanks for letting us use your library, Mr. Tucker!"
Ed also said his farewell, which Nina happily returned while Alexander barked, tail wagging, and Tucker smiled.
"Ah, she's almost as cute as my Elicia," Hughes cooed while they walked towards the gate, Mr. Tucker closing the doors behind them.
Ed cocked a brow, about to question why Hughes had given Edward that concerned look when his future self asked, "So why haven't you gone back to Central?"
Edward was already sitting in the car, backseat door open. Ed glared suspiciously at him as he got in beside the teen with Al sitting across from them.
"Well," Hughes got in the driver seat, "I was on my way to the train station when I got assigned to a murder case, and just my luck," he sighed, slumping over the wheel. "The murderer is apparently headed to this city, so they asked me to stay here and track him down."
Edward looked to the floor, guilt twisting his face. "Sorry," he said as the man started the car and the engine rumbled to life. "It's kind of our fault you're stuck here."
"Don't worry about it." Hughes perked up while pulling into traffic. "It's nice getting to see Roy and you boys again." He flashed a smile back at them. "So how's your research going? You want me to drop you off at the library? Or are you heading back to the hotel?"
"The library," Ed said. "We need to pick up Alph—"
"Don't worry about that," Al said with a strange deepness echoing in his armor.
"What?" Ed turned to him in confusion. "But he's been there all day, he should be ready to leave by now."
Al shook his head. "You don't understand." He reached for his helmet and pulled it off—
Alphonse emerged from inside, smiling sheepishly while Ed's eyes popped. "I've been here the whole time," he finished.
"WHAT!?" Ed screeched, only to yelp as a sharp turn threw him against the door.
"Sorry, sorry!" Hughes said, blinking owlishly. "I wasn't expecting Alphonse to show up like that!"
Alphonse rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry, I was going to get out at the hotel, but I didn't want you to drive to the library for nothing."
Ed righted himself, and scowled at his younger brothers. "Why were you hiding in Al?"
"To preserve the timeline," the youngest Elric answered, setting his helmet in his lap. "Another Elric meeting Tucker might have altered the timeline even more than it's already been altered, so Alphonse asked if he could hide in me."
Ed's expression became scrutinizing. "Then why not just stay at the hotel? Wouldn't that have accomplished the same thing?" Alphonse's lips pursed, and Ed's gaze sharpened. "Unless there's another reason you were at Tucker's…"
"I asked him to hide in Al." Ed glanced at his other self as Edward crossed his arms, tone perfectly neutral. "And no, I won't tell you why I did."
Ed's teeth clenched. Yet in an instant, his face relaxed. "Whatever," he said, turning to stare out the window.
The other Elrics looked at him in shock, but couldn't question him as Hughes cheerfully announced, "We're here!"
He pulled in front of the hotel, parking in between two cars. Al raised his helmet to set it back over Alphonse, but suddenly his future self's eyes widened.
"Wait. Brother," he regarded Edward, "Wasn't there something you needed to do at East Headquarters? Something you wanted to find last night?"
Edward blinked, yet soon remembrance dawned on him. "Oh yeah, I was going to see if I could find a good spot to hide a—" He stopped, brow rising.
Then a grin spread over his face and he grabbed Alphonse's shoulders. "That's it! I know how we can save them!"
Alphonse's face lit with surprise, but soon hope gleamed in his eyes. "Really?"
Edward didn't answer as he looked to Hughes. "Can you take us to HQ?"
Hughes hummed. "I did offer to pick you guys up to avoid paperwork and really." He smiled, though it was a tired one. "I could use a little more time away from my latest case."
Ed glowered, wanting to demand what his future self was planning, but…
The Elric forced himself to turn away and pushed open the door. "Come on, Al."
His little brother turned his way, though without his helmet on it was kind of hard to guess what expression he'd be making.
However, soon Al said, "Okay, I just got to let Alphonse out."
Ed exited the car, tossing a goodbye to Hughes as Al undid the straps holding up his chest plate and pulled the metal piece off. Alphonse ducked and crawled out onto the seats, taking his crutch out the armor while Al put his helmet and plate back on.
The youngest Elric got out of the car and waved. "See you later!"
Ed though, scowled at the ground, not bothering to look back as he pushed open the hotel door.
The door clicked shut in Hughes' temporary office. The lieutenant colonel went to sit at his desk and brushed aside a mug of old coffee and the stack of paper blocking his view of the Elrics seated in front of him.
"Okay." He leaned back in his chair and blew out a breath. "Let met get this straight." Edward grinned smugly and he leaned forward on his desk, massaging his eyes under his glasses. "You were planning to leave me a letter about my…demise, and hide it in a place where only I would find it."
Edward folded his arms behind his head, though his grin dimmed somewhat at the mention of Hughes' death. "Yeah, I even forged Colonel Mustang's handwriting so you'd think it was from him and wouldn't open the letter until the date it tell you to on the envelope."
Hughes nodded slowly, taking his hand from his face while his brow wrinkled. "That way I wouldn't be warned too early about my demise and change the timeline beforehand."
Edward's expression grew serious. "Exactly, but after everything that happened last night, I forgot about it." He straightened up. "Now though, I'm going to use that plan to save Nina."
"Something happens to Nina?" Hughes' eyes widened and Alphonse gasped at his brother, but soon the man shook his head. "Hey, hold on, I can't know about the future—"
"You can," Edward asserted, scowling at the desk. "You're the only one we can tell about this," he said quietly.
Hughes frowned. "I don't understand, the timeline—"
"Won't change much if we tell you about Nina's death," Alphonse whispered, crestfallen, and Edward knew he'd realized what he had.
Hughes paused, and a moment later realized what they meant. He made a soft understanding noise and turned to the ceiling.
"I…won't be around long enough to affect the future."
Edward's head hung low and he grasped his knees tightly, yet he soon forced himself to look up and say, "We need your help to save her." Hughes frowned as resolve filled his voice. "But you don't have to help us. We're risking a lot by trying to save her, including our own lives, so if you don't want to help, we get it."
Hughes's frown deepened and he sighed, glancing at the window behind him. "It sounds like you've both already thought about what you're getting yourselves into…and well…it's not like I have much to lose anyway."
The Elrics' faces lit up while the man beamed. "I'll help, so what's the plan?"
Edward grinned. "I just told you it."
Hughes blinked as Alphonse asked, "So Nina and Alexander are like the letter?" His expression turned thoughtful. "And we're hiding them until—"
"Around the Promised Day," Edward nodded to himself. "Then it should be safe." His lips slanted down. "But in the meantime our past selves, Tucker, and everyone else except us three need to believe Nina and Alexander died almost exactly like they had in the original timeline."
"That way they'll act exactly the same as we did!" Alphonse's voice shook with excitement and he reached over to hug his brother. "And the future won't change, that's brilliant, Brother!"
Edward smiled when Hughes said, "Uhh, I understood nothing of what you just said except you seem to want to fake Nina's death."
Edward nodded and Alphonse let him go. "That's where you come in. We're going to need some supplies to make this seem real."
Hughes' brow rose and Edward smirked. "Think you can get us a corpse?"
The man gaped before bursting into laughter. "You boys are something else." He smiled, skin crinkling around his eyes, and Edward's smile twitched, a strange look passing over his face.
Because if they could save Nina…maybe…
Ed was exhausted by the time he reached their hotel room. So he forwent dinner for once and headed to bed, barely aware of Al pulling the sheets over him before he passed out.
He woke up hours later to a dim light piercing the darkness. Groggily, he blinked until the light became a lamp on the floor between Alphonse and Edward who were sitting by the window.
"Brother, please." Alphonse grasped Edward's arm, facing away from Ed.
The fifteen-year old became alert as he realized the two were deep in conversation, and he blinked upon noticing the bio-alchemy textbooks and hastily-scrawled notes surrounding them. Weren't those Tucker's? Had they stolen them?
Edward frowned, lines of his face deepening. "I—"
"Promise me you won't blame yourself," Alphonse whispered. "If anything happens, it's not your fault."
Ed's face filled with alarm. Why did Alphonse sound so scared? What was happening?
"You didn't talk me into this," Alphonse shook his head, "Just like you didn't talk me into bringing back Mom."
Ed gasped right as his future self did and Alphonse's hand tightened on Edward's arm. "So if there are any consequences to saving her, promise me you won't hate yourself. Please, don't ever hate yourself again."
Edward's lips parted, eyes huge. Slowly, he looked down and his hand came to grasp Alphonse's shaking one on his arm.
"Okay," he said, voice solemn and quiet. "I promise."
Alphonse's shoulders fell, and he released his sibling with a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Brother."
Edward nodded, though he was frowning. "Anyway," his gaze shifted aside, "There's still something you should look over for the transmutation, I think it's in Tucker's notes over there."
He pointed at the papers stacked by Ed's bed, and Alphonse turned to grab it.
His eyes landed on Ed. He stopped. Shock spread across his face while guilt twisted Ed's.
However, Alphonse's expression quickly calmed and he looked back at Edward. "It's not here, maybe you dropped it?"
"You sure?"
Alphonse nodded, and Edward's eyes widened before he scrambled up, wobbling a little on his automail leg. "I'll check in the hall." He hurried to the door. "Tucker's notes really shouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
Alphonse muttered an affirmative and watched his brother until the door clicked shut behind him. Ed waited a second before sitting up as Alphonse turned his way.
The future Elric went to speak, but Ed waved his hands, stammering, "I didn't mean to overhear anything! I just woke up!"
Alphonse blinked, yet soon asked, "How much did you hear?"
Ed grimaced, gaze darting aside. "Just…the promise…"
Alphonse's expression remained neutral, though he exhaled. "Then there's nothing to worry over—"
"Are you sure about that?"
Ed's mouth snapped shut as he realized what he'd asked while Alphonse's brow furrowed, but he quickly said, "Sorry, forget I said anything." His eyes fell on the bed covers. "I…I'm not going to ask what you two are up to, I know it's dangerous to learn too much about the future."
Shame colored his tone and Alphonse looked surprised, yet soon grinned. "Don't worry, you'll know everything sooner than you expect."
Ed bit his lip, a rock weighing down his stomach, and he forced his eyes up.
Alphonse's expression grew concerned, clearly seeing the guilt in his gaze as he said, "I'm sorry."
Alphonse cocked his head. "Sorry? For what?"
Ed gripped the bedsheets. "For pestering you so much about the future. I…I didn't think about how hard it must be for you to keep quiet, I only thought—"
"About how much knowing the future would help you get your bodies back." Ed jolted and his head whipped towards Alphonse who smiled gently. "It's okay, I know you were only trying to help Al."
Ed gasped, but he probably shouldn't have been surprise. Alphonse always was forgiving.
"Well," Alphonse looked down at some notes, "I should let Brother know I found Tucker's diagram."
Alphonse grabbed his crutch from beside him and carefully stood with it. Though before he could leave, Ed reached out to him.
"Be careful with whatever you're doing, okay?"
His sibling turned back. "Of course." He teased, "I'm not reckless like you, Brother."
Ed might have been offended, but there was a tightness to Alphonse's grin and a distant look to his eyes as he started to leave. The Elric frowned while his brother went out into the hall, though soon he sighed and laid back down.
"You better take care of him, future me." Ed scowled at the ceiling. "You better," he hissed before rolling onto his side and trying to fall back asleep.
The next night, Edward and Alphonse went out in the pouring rain.
Edward held the black umbrella over them as Alphonse crouched in the alley, alchemy sparking over his hands and peeling apart the brick ground to reveal a tunnel.
"Are you sure you want to come?" Edward asked, frowning worriedly.
Alphonse nodded, reaching for the lantern at his feet. "We can't risk messing this up, and if anything goes wrong, you'll need me."
He slid into the tunnel before his brother could argue, palm scraping lightly along the cool dirt and lantern swaying as he came to a stop. Alphonse turned onto his hand and knees, his brother sighing behind him as he started crawling into the passageway.
A scraping followed soon after and he knew Edward was coming, so hurried ahead. Though he shivered from the cool air while they began the journey to Tucker's lab. Undoubtedly, the man would perform the transmutation there, probably already had the array drawn on the floor and would call on Nina once he'd finished adjusting it.
Alphonse's lips twisted with anger, but soon his expression calmed. He needed to be level-headed tonight, especially since it was going to take an hour, if not longer, for the man to attempt making a chimera out of his daughter. After all, they had just left the man's house, or well, their past selves had since Alphonse and Edward had been busy all day transmuting a corpse to resemble Nina.
Alphonse huffed as the tunnel inclined, arms starting to ache and breathing a bit labored—almost there.
The tunnel opened up and Alphonse stopped, shifting to sit on his haunches while his hair brushed against the cement floor above. He raised his lantern and the yellow light shined on the wooden crate Edward had dragged here about an hour ago, which contained the corpse.
Edward crawled into the space beside him and Alphonse shifted to give him some room, though his gaze was on the cement ground above. He'd created the exit point behind the cages of chimera in Tucker's lab, so if the man was nearby, he shouldn't notice his alchemy.
Still, to be safe Alphonse said, "I'll make sure he's not looking."
Edward nodded, lips pressing together. "Be careful."
Alphonse inclined his head. Then he set down the lantern, clapped his hands, and touched the ceiling. Alchemy raced over the cement, carving out a small circle about the size of his hand. He carefully laid his fingers on the circle and pushed it up slowly, peering into the lab and squinting against the lights—
Someone was screaming.
Alphonse froze as the scream warbled from shrill to guttural. From a little girl to a howling dog.
Alphonse's hands were already sparking and transmuting a larger opening as his brother seethed, "Open it now!"
The hole expanded and Edward leapt out, landing in a crouch, while Alphonse raised his head to look out. His face drained of color, eyes blowing open wide.
Tucker was kneeled at the edge of a large transmutation circle, lightning lashing around it, and in the middle of the array was Nina and Alexander. Their bodies were bleeding into each other like molten wax, shoulders conjoined and heads melding together with tan fur and red hair twisting down their back in a mane.
Tears ran freely down Nina's warping face, and her mouth opened impossibly wide with a heart-wrenching scream as her arm crunched back in the wrong direction.
Alphonse needed to move, he needed to move, he needed to move—Nina was dying—so why couldn't he move!?
"Stop it now!"
Edward lunged at Tucker and the man's head jerked up, hands lifting from the circle. The Elric slammed into him and he crashed back with a cry, but Alphonse's gaze quickly leapt back to the array.
Nina and Alexander were crumpled on the ground and Alphonse couldn't tell where one ended and the other began, but the combining couldn't have been completed. There was still time, there had to be—please.
Alphonse crawled out from behind the cages, glancing over to see his brother had Tucker pinned beneath him and was lifting the man by his green collar with a fist raised.
"You're dead for that," Edward growled, glaring fire at the alchemist. "For what you did to your wife and what you tried doing to your daughter, you sick bastard!"
Alphonse grabbed Nina's ankle, whispering, "Nina?" He gazed down at her and Alexander.
They weren't conjoined, their bodies were separated though they were unconscious and Nina's arm was still bent at an unnatural angle.
The teen sucked in a sharp breath, head bowing as he hissed, "Thank goodness."
Alphonse carefully pulled Nina into his arms, taking in her sweaty and flushed face and the unusual heat radiating through her blue nightgown. He smiled a watery grin, tears welling in his eyes.
"It's going to be okay, you're going to be okay this time," he choked out.
A click resounded through the air. Alphonse's head snapped back to see Edward lowering his fist slowly, his gaze locked on a silver revolver pressing into his chest.
Alphonse's breath hitched as Tucker chuckled lowly, his lopsided grin showing teeth. "That's right. Now get off of me slowly."
Edward glared, but stood from the man who sat up to keep the gun against the boy's chest. "I hate brats like you, you know," his mouth curled into a sneer, "Who figure out things too quickly."
Alphonse lowered Nina, readying to clap when Edward glanced his way. The younger boy stopped, seeing the warning in his brother's eyes. But why? He could easily distract Tucker and Edward could knock the gun away…but that would reveal Alphonse and damage the timeline even worse than it already was because Tucker would likely mention him to their past selves. Then Ed and Al might figure out Nina was still alive and they'd never learn the lessons they should, which would cost them everything.
Alphonse bit his lip as Edward's eyes narrowed at Tucker who was getting to his feet. "And how do you plan to explain my disappearance to my cousins? Or Nina and Alexander's, huh?"
Alphonse looked from Edward who was being held at gunpoint to the little girl in his arms. Brother…Brother might die if he left, but Nina…he could save her and protect the future.
Tears dribbled down Alphonse's cheeks as he pulled Nina close. He hesitated another moment. Then he turned and crawled back to the tunnel. He tucked Nina into the hole, mindful of her broken arm, and reached for the box beside her, pulling open the lid with clammy hands.
"You didn't tell them you were coming here."
He stilled at Tucker's soft, taunting voice.
"Or what you suspected I did to my wife, did you? Which means if they find your body, they'll have no reason to suspect I killed you."
Alphonse shook off his terror and forced himself to grab the corpse of a little girl who looked like Nina's twin. Quietly, he brought his hands together to form a ring and transmuted a blue nightgown out of the yellow dress the two-day old corpse was wearing—an orphan found dead on the street with no one to claim her.
"No, I didn't tell them," Edward growled. "But I told Lieutenant Colonel Hughes and he'll be here any minute to arrest you," he bluffed, clearly stalling.
Alphonse lifted the corpse, edged around the cages and crawled back to the circle. He kept his eyes on Tucker who was facing Ed since the man could spot him in his peripheral. However, he noticed the man's glasses weren't on his face—had they fallen when Ed tackled him?—and some of his nervousness faded as he laid the dead girl beside Alexander.
He started backing up while Tucker grinned. "Then I might as well kill you so I can finish the transmutation, hm?"
Alphonse paused. It would be so easy to save Brother right now, even if it risked the future... There just wasn't any point in having a future if his brother couldn't be beside him. However, he'd also be damning his past self to a life in the suit of armor, if not a quick death at Father's hand...
He forced himself to crawl backward towards the tunnel, sliding down in beside Nina who he could barely see through his tears. He wiped his face with his sleeve and was going to head down when he noticed an empty cage stacked above a snoozing lizard chimera.
Alphonse didn't think before reaching up to shove the empty cage. He swiftly ducked back into the tunnel and was transmuting it close as the cage crashed onto the floor. In the low light of his lantern, Alphonse grabbed Nina and started to descend down the hole as shoes scuffled above them. Come on, Brother, take advantage of the distraction!
Alphonse was certain his brother could take it from here so turned to go into the cramped tunnel, abandoning the lamp since he had to carry Nina. He moved as fast as he could, head scraping against the tunnel ceiling in his haste, and he made it five yards in when muffled gunshots rang out.
He stopped, horror wracking his heart. Yet he couldn't go back, couldn't check on Brother when Tucker might see him.
Alphonse trembled while he forced himself to keep crawling. He pawed at the earth in the darkness, legs slowing against his will and breathing haggard as he held Nina close to his chest.
There was probably dirt all over his and Nina's clothes, but it didn't matter. He just needed to get Nina somewhere safe and go back to check on Brother who had to be okay.
After a few minutes, Alphonse heard the faint patter of rain. A cold breeze struck his face, and he shivered while his hand grasped mud and slid down it. Yet he simply dug his nails in the loose dirt and clawed his way up the inclining tunnel.
His head breached the surface, and he panted heavily while the rain pelted his hair. He took a minute to catch his breath before dragging himself and Nina up onto the puddle-riddled ground.
Alphonse stumbled onto shaky legs, clutching Nina against his chest as he stepped over to the wall. He sunk to his knees, and gently laid the girl against a trashcan, his chest and lungs burning even while he inhaled the cool air. Yet he ignored his body's soreness as his eyes landed on the umbrella Edward had left and his crutch by the tunnel.
He grabbed the umbrella, opened it, and set it over Nina. Then he got his crutch and stood, leaning heavily on it while he stared down at the sleeping girl. Maybe Nina was young enough that tonight would just seem like a bad dream that she'd forget all about once she grew up.
"We did it, Brother."
Alphonse gazed at the tunnel, uncaring of his damp hair falling over his eyes and the chilly rain running down his body. They'd save Nina and the future was still safe. Now he just had to find his brother and share the good news because surely the older Elric was okay. Edward must have dodged those gunshots because he was too fast to get hit, or maybe the gun had fallen during their scuffle and simply shot at the wall, missing his brother by miles.
"Edward Elric."
Alphonse jumped and swiveled back to see a man with white hair and tan skin. His mouth dropped as he recognized Scar right when a hand sparking with deconstruction flew toward his head.
"ALPHONSE!"
Please don't hate me, but I planned out this cliff hanger ending months ago.
Next chapter, without giving away too much, will reveal what Scar just did to Edward and how this affects Alphonse. Also, expect every character that's in Easy City to show up because next chapter is the last chapter of this fanfic (excluding the epilogue) and I'm going out with a bang for this finale.
Play time is over. You readers have been warned.
See ya in two weeks!
Revised: 5/8/2022