Leaning back on Al, both arms behind his head and eyes closed, Ed just soaked up the sun. "Remember when we used to do this? No cares, on one after us, no bodyguards..." Opening one eye and glancing over at Armstrong who seemed to be chopping even more wood.

"We used to swim." Al sounded wistful.

Holding his right arm up in the air and looking at the automail that was so familiar to him. "Yeah, we can't do that anymore. We'll get you back to normal Al, you'll swim again, even if I have to push you in."

"If you do, I'll beat you up!"

"Yeah right, you won't have this great big suit of armor to protect you any more."

"Ha, I was beating you before we went to teachers and afterwards, you couldn't even touch me."

"But you're out of practice and I've been working out."

"So that's why I was able to beat you up earlier?"

"I was just taking it easy on you."

"Yeah... right..."

"And I beat up Armstrong!"

"With my help."

"Well... yeah, but we beat him," leaning back again against his brother, "I miss swimming."

"Me too."

And with that they both lapsed into silence.

(Locked from all who don't know about Al's true nature)

They tried so hard to keep the truth hidden from everyone who didn't already know about their sin. Human transmogrification was forbidden and for good reason. The price was so much more than one should be asked to pay, though at first they thought they would be willing to pay. That they had already given everything before. Until they realized the price...

That night, five years ago, Ed lost his left leg for his mother and his right arm for his brother. However, what Al lost was so much more. He lost his whole body and only with Ed's quick thinking was his soul bonded to a suit of armor. An eight foot tall suit of armor.

Thing is, how do you keep people from figuring it out when the suit of armor walking behind you is twice your size, but the person in it is supposed to be a year younger than you? Most times he *tried* to put up with the short jokes, even though it made him really angry (as Colonel Roy Mustang loved taking advantage of).

Even though they tried so hard to keep it hidden, the fact that Al was an empty suit of armor was the biggest little secret that everyone seemed to know or find out.

Revenge is something that I have sought out for a long time. When ones friends has been destroyed and when you know who did it, then how can you not seek revenge? If not finding revenge means that you have become an adult, then I don't ever want to grow up.

There have been times that I have wanted revenge... wanted it so deep that I've not understood the reason why others didn't.

Oh, I know there are things that are more important than revenge. However, I have heard that it is a dish best served cold. One that if I can, I will serve with glee. I have things I must complete first. Destroying the Homunculus will change everything. Of course, getting rid of some of them will get revenge as well.

Scar... was he a friend, or an enemy? That's something I don't think I'll ever be able to answer, however he was seeking his own revenge. We were more comrades in arms at times, though we worked against each other. We both sought out the stone at one point and we both wanted answers to questions neither of us could answer. Of course, Scar tried for quite some time to kill both Al and I. He was seeking revenge for his people though. Against the State Alchemist's who went against unarmed people. I don't blame him for wanting hit, however, the way he was going about it was wrong. Not all of us are like that.

Revenge is necessary.

"Hello, I'm Ed." Giving everyone his biggest grin and waving, gloves on his hands and jacket covering his arms, "Anyone see my brother Al around here? Can't miss him. Big walking suit of armor. Usually gets mistaken for me?"

"If not, well, I guess I'll wait for him here. He won't be long behind me. Never is. Probably got his nose stuck in a book at the Central Library again and forgot to stop reading. You see, we're looking for the philosopher's stone so to fix a mistake that was made. Though I'm not entirely sure we want it any more."

Ed looked over at his brother and just shook his head. They'd both given up so much over the years to get back what had been lost. To get back Al's body and make things right again.

When they left their hometown of Rizenbul to become dogs of the military, to get access to the Central Library there; they'd burned down their family home, so they'd have nothing to go back to. As far as everyone else was concerned, Ed said he'd forgotten about it because there was nothing to return to. However, the very day he had passed his exams and gotten his State Alchemist watch he'd carved something inside: 'Don't forget 3.Oct.10', the day they left it all behind and he was determined to get it all back. To return to Al what he took from him.

He knew that Al wanted to do the same for him. To get the arm and leg back that he lost. But he didn't care about that if only he could get back Al his body instead of the armor his soul was in now and get him back the home he took away.