Note: This story came about due to simultaneously finishing an umpteenth reading of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga and Korra withdrawls waiting for book 2. It takes place directly after the season finale of Korra and where the epilogue left off in the Fullmetal Alchemist manga/Brotherhood. So beware of spoilers! I know there's a lot of FMA crossovers out there but I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 1: An Interruption

"Are you sure this is wise, Zhi?" Aang asked, his eyes slated in worry, his beard twitching in annoyance. The large spirit creature standing next to the Avatar turned to him. He looked something like an overgrown monkey much as Hei Bai took the form of a panda bear, Won Shi Tong an owl.

"Those two boys wish to learn more about the world around them. What better way for them to do so than to send them to your domain, with places and powers they know not? Would it not be instructive for them to know such a place exists and to give them the opportunity to glean what unique knowledge it offers? "

"But against their will? They should at least be contacted and asked about what they want."

"They lack the necessary spirituality to be contacted by us of the spirit realm. You know that well."

Aang thought back to the seventeen years he had unsuccessfully tried to contact his successor Korra until, finally, just mere hours before, he was able to actually speak with her and offer her his help directly. Yes, he understood.

"But still, we've no right to interfere."

"I've every right. Travels and helping people find what they seek is my jurisdiction. Even if the Elric brothers don't know it, and haven't asked for it, this is the best way for them to attain their goals on their journey."

"But they want to know more about that alchemy business." Aang argued. "They're both going to the east and west to find out about alchemy!"

"What they seek more generally is knowledge. I've already explained why they can better gain that where I'm sending them. Furthermore, Avatar Aang, I believe they are resourceful enough to apply what they gain in your human realm to their arts, even more successfully than they would in their own. I feel their quest to contribute to alchemical law will not be hindered but progressed. "

Aang sighed, defeated. "Spirits are so difficult. Alright, Zhi, you win. But why does my reincarnation have to be involved in this? After everything that's happened to her recently and when she's finally resting with her family and friends in peace?"

"Who better to teach them about your world than its human incarnation?"

"Fine." Aang replied icily. Spirits. Humbug. He sighed heavily again and stared down, down into the world. He saw ice and snow, the place where his successor was not long ago sobbing in despair and was now enjoying a hot meal with those she loved.

"Watch out, Korra. You're going to have company."

Ed was still grinning like a maniac as he looked out of the train window. Not more than an hour ago he had taken a chance and asked Winry to marry him (in his own dumb, dorky way) and …she had said yes! He officially had a fiancée waiting for him back home, he was going to see amazing new places, and he was going to learn a lot. Things couldn't have been better. Well, he was disappointed he wouldn't see Lin on this trip (He kind of missed the idiot prince and his crazy guard). But other than that life hadn't seemed as bright for him as they had in the two years since the bearded bastard was defeated.

Until, of course, everything went dark and he felt himself whisked away almost as if by a wind or the Gate.

When he awoke, Ed felt nothing but a burning chill. He was vaguely reminded of Briggs, the fort, the Chimaera, that damned female general, the equally damned cold…cold? Snow? His eyes shot open to find, unsurprisingly…snow.

"What?"

He got to his feet quickly, growling, reached to transmute his arm into a blade, remembered his arm wasn't automail anymore, balled his hands into fists, and stayed alert. Surveying the frozen land, he noticed two blond figures lying next to him.

"AL! WINRY!"He shouted, causing both to groan, stir, and rise to their feet.

"Ed?"

"Brother?"
Ed ran up to them and sighed in relief seeing they were both okay. Al had a jacket on still but Winry was in a T-shirt and apron, so Ed threw his coat off and wrapped it around her.

"Ed what happened to us?" She asked frantically. "Is this…Briggs?"

"I don't think so."

"Was…was it the Gate that brought us here, Brother?"

"I don't…I don't know…It didn't exactly feel the same to me. How did you two get here?"

"I was on the train on my way to Xing with Zampano and Jerso and suddenly it was dark and I felt, I dunno, wind or something. They must be wigging out back in the train if I disappeared like that."

"And I was in the workshop fixing Mr. Sawyer's new arm. Aw man, Granny's gonna kill me…"

Ed looked wildly around for signs of life. He vividly recalled being stuck in a blizzard on Mt. Briggs and wasn't keen on repeating the experience. He hoped that, like Briggs, this place was inhabited, but he hoped here they weren't armed. Looking around he saw something he hadn't noticed before that made him grin in gratitude- a large, elegant living compound a hundred yards away that was lit and clearly occupied. He turned his grin back to Al and Winry.

"Let's head over there."

"Good idea!" Winry agreed. "There should be people there that can tell us where we are."

"Let's try to hurry, though. Al suggested anxiously. "Before a blizzard comes in…"

As they approached the compound they saw shadows in an upper window and heard laughter. There appeared to be a feast going on inside and it made the trio's mouths water. It was nearing dinner time. As they looked up, one figure that seemed to be a young woman chanced to look out the window and started upon seeing them. In the open plain of snow around them they could hear every word spoken in the room clearly.

"Guys, look! There's someone out there!" The young woman said, getting up.

"What? Who?" A young man's voice replied. A tall figure, apparently sitting next to the girl, appeared.

"I'll go see who it is."

"I'll go with you!" the tall young man said.

"I'll be fine, Mako."

"I'm going."

"Whatever."

"Let's go too, Bolin." A second female voice called across the table.

"But I'm not done with my sea prunes!"

"C'mon…"

"It sounds like we're going to get some help!" Al said joyfully, thick streams of tears flowing from his eyes.

"Sounds like it, Bro!" Ed agreed, his tears sharp jets spraying all over.

"Look!" Winry interrupted, pointing at the compound. The gates were opening, revealing a group of people around their own ages who they could only assume where the four voices they had heard. A girl in a blue-and-white parka stood in front of the group, her hands on her hips, eying them critically. Her skin was dark- if it weren't for her ice-blue eyes, they would have thought she was Ishbalan. Standing behind her, almost protectively close, was a tall boy with short-cropped hair, and a bright red scarf around his neck. On her right was another girl with lighter skin but equally dark hair who looked suspiciously at them. On the left was a boy cradling a steaming bowl of stew who, Ed thought, must be the taller boy's brother.

"I'm sorry to bother you but I think we're a little lost." Ed called to them. "Okay, so, really lost." He amended. "Can you tell us where we are right now?"

"White Lotus Compound, South Pole." The dark skinned girl informed them slowly.

"SOUTH POLE?"

"Brother, what does she mean?"

"Ed, how can we be at the South Pole? I didn't think anyone lived there!"

They stared at the other group in shock. They just stared silently back, plainly confused.

"Do you…uh…want to come in?" The girl offered.

"Yes."

"Please."
"Thank you."

When they had walked into the vast courtyard a few feet a larger crowd was gathering, joining the four youths. There was a very old woman, at least Granny Pinako's age. Beside her was a bald man with a long beard and a strange blue arrow tattoo on his head. Surrounding him were what the trio took to be his wife and children- two young girls standing close to him, the younger one clinging to the man's robes, talking fast, the older one looking intelligently ahead, a little boy hanging onto his father's shoulders, and a newborn in a woman's arms. Finally, behind them was a stern, scarred lady just in the beginnings of old age, and a middle aged couple. The wife looked so remarkably like the dark skinned girl, Ed guessed they were her parents.

"Korra, who are our guests?" The bald man with the tattoo asked. The dark skinned girl answered.

"They say they're lost, Tenzin."

"A moment of your time, kids." Tenzin said sharply. The four teens went up to him and they started speaking in whispers.

"Equalists…"

"How could they not know where they are?"

"Fishy…"

"But if they were equalists, they'd have attacked by now!"

Finally the girl, Korra, went up to them grinning.

"Sorry about that! Please come in. I promise we aren't unfriendly, but with what happened in Republic City recently we can't be too careful. I'm Korra, by the way."

Republic City…?

Ed was about to ask for clarification when the strict-looking woman strode right up to them. She seemed to mark Ed as the leader as she loomed imposingly over him in particular and, putting her hands neatly behind her back, leaned over.

"Before we let you inside, answer me truthfully. You are in fact really lost and haven't come here to hurt anyone?"

"We aren't gonna hurt anyone lady." Ed said stoutly. Peculiarly, as he answered, the woman struck the ground with her bare foot, shimmying out of her shoe to do so. She seemed to think over his answer, and then nodded gruffly to Korra.

"Fine, let them in." She ordered the girl grudgingly, and walked off with a blasé attitude as if she hadn't just interrogated them and didn't care one way or another who they were or what their intentions were.

As they were lead further into the compound the tall man called Tenzin came up and introduced himself.

"How do you do, sir. Thanks for taking us in. My name's Edward Elric, this is my brother Alphonse Elric, and she's Winry Rockbell."

Before either of his companions could offer their thanks, Tenzin's younger daughter sped up to them so fast they could swear she was manipulating the air around her and began addressing them at a ridiculously fast speed.

"Hi my name's Ikki and this is my sister Jinora and my little brother Meelo and my other little brother Rohan, why are you so tall, Mister, are you taller than Mako and you, why are you so short your tiny and why are you so pretty, miss, and why are you in the South Pole anyway are you here to visit Korra to celebrate her meeting Grandpa huh? Huh? Or are you bad guys cause if your bad guys we can beat you up and how-"

"That's enough, Ikki." Tenzin snapped. "Our guests are tired and they don't want you to bother them."

"Yeah, shut up, stupid." Her older sister admonished her, hands securely over her ears with a sour expression on her face.

"Why don't you kids take these young people inside so they can rest and get something to eat?" The very elderly woman suggested, laughing as she pat the now quiet Ikki on the head.

"I wanna go too, Gran Gran!"

"No, Ikki."
"Aww…"

"C'mon, before Ikki decides to follow us anyway and pester us half to death." Korra waved for them to follow and they went with the other teens out of the courtyard and into the building, going down a carpeted hallway toward a cluster of comfy looking rooms.

"So my name's Bolin." The shorter boy said cheerfully, practically bouncing down the hall.

"Mako." His brother offered, nodding slightly.

"Asami Sato here." The other girl greeted them politely.

Soon they were situated in a small room with a low table and a fireplace, with a promise of food on the way.

"Oh! You guys can have the rest of the sea prunes I was eating!" Bolin said excitedly, handing the bowl he was carrying to the three newcomers.

"I dunno, not many people outside the water tribe actually like sea prunes." Korra reasoned skeptically. "Oh looks like the fire's out." she noted, looking at the fireplace.

"You want me to do it?" Mako asked her.

"Naw, I got it." She assured him.

Ed assumed she was going to get a tinderbox but instead she pointed her hand at the fireplace …

And fire shot from it.

The three stared in shock. "What…did you just do?" Ed whispered. That wasn't alchemy. There was no transmutation circle, no zaps of electricity from performing alchemy.

"What do you mean? I'm a firebender." Korra shot back, bemused. "I know there aren't a lot of us at the poles, but…"

"You're a what? What's that?"

The quartet stared at the trio in disbelief and turned their incredulous faces back onto each other.

"Y'know bending…with fire…like waterbending… only with fire…" Bolin supplied unhelpfully, uncomfortably. Ed, Al, and Winry gave each other troubled looks. These people were acting like they were crazy for not knowing what firebenders were."

"I'm one, too." Mako told them. In demonstration, he raised his hand palm up and, sure enough, produced a small flame in his hand. Letting them get a good look, he closed his hand into a fist, snuffing it out.

"Brother how are they doing that!? There's no transmutation circles and-"

"Never mind that now- there's another thing I was wondering about. You said this is the South Pole…but the South Pole is uninhabited, as far as I know."

The incredulous expressions returned.

"Uninhabited?" Korra asked. "The Water Tribe's been here forever. I was born and raised here."

Ed, Al, and Winry gaped. Korra gave them all a long look, until she concluded "You've never heard of the Water Tribe, have you?"

Her friends looked at her in alarm.

"Never in our lives, miss." Al confirmed. "We've always been taught there's no civilization at the Poles."

"But that's crazy" Asami said. "Where could they possibly be from that they don't know the Water Tribe?"

"Or bending…" Mako mused.

Suddenly, all seven teens came to the same conclusion. This wasn't their South Pole.

"This reeks of spirit world shenanigans." The old woman, whom the trio had since learned was called Katara, declared confidently.

"Mother are you sure?" Tenzin asked.

"Right. Because I have no experience with this at all."

When it had become clear that Ed, Al, and Winry were really not from around here, Korra had decided something other worldly was at play. Though Ed was not inclined to believe in higher powers, or spirits, or whatever it was they were dealing with, he couldn't deny that one minute he was on a train and the next in a snowy country where people shot fire from nothing and lived in the South Pole. There was no explanation he could think of, so he didn't object when Korra suggested enlisting Katara and her son Tenzin for help, who were, she assured them, experts on this sort of thing.

"I'm not saying that, Mother." Tenzin replied patiently. "I'm merely suggesting that isn't it more likely these kids have amnesia?"

"If they did they'd remember such basic things as the four nations and bending. And they remember their own names and other details about their lives which they wouldn't in the event of memory loss."

"Besides, look at them Tenzin." Korra insisted. "Have you ever seen hair that color? And their names aren't any I've ever heard."

"But if the spirits guided them here, what was their purpose in doing so?"

"I dunno. You're the spiritual expert. You tell 'em why they're here."

"Well, maybe they can tell us." Tenzin said. "Did you three have… a vision, any kind of vision, before arriving here? You say you felt a force pulling you, and you came to here. Before that, did you catch a glimpse of anyone or anyplace?"

"No sir, we didn't." Winry affirmed. "At least, I didn't. You guys?"

Ed and Al shook their heads.

"…Hey, Tenzin, do you think Aang might know something about this?" Korra ventured.

"I don't know. Possibly." Tenzin stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Who's Aang?" Al asked.

"My husband." Katara told them.

"He was the previous Avatar…err well I guess you wouldn't know what that is…" Korra said. "Huh. Well, you know that firebending thing I showed you before?" The trio nodded. "Besides that, there's Earth."

Here Bolin stomped the floor causing a disproportionate indent. He stomped again, smoothing it out.

"Water."

To showcase this, Katara raised her hand in front of a cup of tea, which promptly rose into the air in a single, steaming line.

"And Air."

"Let me guess." Ed said before another demonstration, turning to Tenzin. "You and your family bend air."

"Why yes." Tenzin agreed. "Now, how did you know that, young man?"

"Your little girl." Ed explained. "I thought it was just my imagination but she was bending air when she ran up to greet us, wasn't she?"

"Yeah, she does that when she's excited." Korra laughed. "But anyway. Normally someone can only bend one type. But there's always one person in the world who can bend all of them."

"That person is the Avatar." Tenzin finished for her.

"But then..." Al noted slowly, piecing something together "If there's only one at a time…and this man was the previous one…then ma'am, isn't your husband…?"

"Dead? Yes, he's been dead for eighteen years now."

Ed, Al, and Winry nearly toppled out of their seats.

"But, but, then how is he supposed to help us?" Winry asked.
"Relax. The Avatar is reborn when the previous one dies- and they're able to communicate with their past lives."

The trio looked at each other thinking the same thing: these people were saying reincarnation was possible. Ed wondered if there was more to the soul than he supposed. Or if maybe souls worked differently here. Either way, given the strange things he had witnessed, he was inclined to believe this, too. He decided to save the questions for another time. Al, levelheaded as he was, instead of complicating the situation with a bombardment of inquiries only said

"Wow, then the current Avatar must be pretty amazing, if they can do all that."

"They sure are." Korra agreed, grinning.

"Oh, shut up." Mako admonished her, smirking though he was clearly trying to be mature and not laugh. Korra, on the other hand, broke into hearty laughter.

Wait then, you are…"

"Yup, you're lookin' at her." She said through laughter, jabbing her thumb at her head. "The bridge between the two worlds and all that." Her expression turned sober and a little bashful. "But, uh…I ain't making any promises. I've only spoken with Aang once and that was kind of a fluke. Also, only a few hours ago."

Ed's jaw dropped. Just their luck.

"See, I'm just not very good at this spiritual crap yet. But! I promise I'll try." She added hastily.

"Korra will you please not refer to communicating with your past lives as 'crap'?" Tenzin growled.

"Okay, okay, get off my case, Tenzin!" She huffed, getting up as her friends giggled.

"Wait, where are you going?" Bolin whined.

"Where do you think? To try and talk to Aang, smart one."

"Can't you do that here?" Mako asked.

"Well, it was on that cliff that I spoke with him. I figure it might be easier if I'm in the same place. I'll take Naga over there, and hopefully come back with answers for you guys." She smiled at the trio. "And I don't want you following me this time" she shot at Mako sternly, who was moving to rise, obviously meaning to go too. "I kinda need to concentrate."

Korra hoped off Naga and ran over to the cliff she had met Aang. She flushed as the fresh memory played through her head and landed on noticing Mako who had followed her and, without hesitation, jumping into his arms and kissing him. She shook her head violently.

"Man, forget anyone else, I can distract my own friggin' self. Geez..."

She plopped down on the snow cross-legged and closed her eyes.

"Okay, Aang." She muttered "I don't need you this time, but someone else does. So, work with me, yeah?"

Before long she heard footsteps behind her and smiled. Turning around she faced the tall, bearded, and smiling figure of her predecessor.

"Sorry to bother you again Aang."

"S'my job, kid. Besides, I think I know what this is about. Are there three strange people about your age at the compound who don't seem to know where they are or how they got there?"

"Yes! They didn't even know what bending is. They're from some kinda different world, aren't they?"

"Yes."
"So, you know about how they got here? I mean how is it even possible?"

Aang groaned in frustration. "Zhi." He said simply.

"Who?"

"The travel spirit. He watches over journeys and helps people find whatever it is they are searching for as he sees fit."

"What does that have to do with- wait! Ed, and Al too, they said they were on trains before coming here!"

"Precisely. In their world, instead of bending they've an ability called alchemy which is similar to bending in that it manipulates your surroundings but very different, especially in that it adheres to stricter natural laws. A few years ago, a villain wanted to use this power to destroy many people and those two boys helped defeat him. When they were taken here, they were on their way to learn more about this alchemy to put it to good uses."

"But then, what about the girl, Winry? She said she was at home when she was taken-not on any kind of journey. And besides, how does this Zhi guy think they'll get what they're looking for here? Alchemy exists in their world, not ours!"

"Zhi insists their true purpose is just to learn more in general." Aang said, not hiding his annoyance with the spirit well. He outlined Zhi's arguments, how he believed learning about the four nations would broaden the Elrics' horizons as they wished, and somehow help them achieve their goals in regards to alchemy research. "As for the girl, I think he wanted to give them a friendly face to be with them. The brothers have been separated from loved ones in the past; I don't think Zhi had it in him to cut them off from family completely."

"Damn, what's with that? Are all spirits this fickle? He didn't even ask them if they wanted this, he just teleported them to another ever-lovin' planet?"

"He deemed them…insufficiently spiritual to receive messages from the spirit world so he opted to just…send them."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. Spirits operate in mysterious and insane ways, you see."

"Obviously. Well, how do we get them home?"

"I've tried talking to Zhi, but he said he'd only send them home when they've…gotten what they've gone out in search for."

"Was he…any more specific than that?"

"He was not."

"Great. Okay, no problem. We'll figure it out. Thanks, Aang."

"Any time, kid."

As Aang vanished, Korra got up and went over to Naga, stroking her snout.

"C'mon, girl. Let's tell them the excellent news." She grumbled sarcastically.

Back at the compound, Ed was anxiously awaiting the young Avatar's return. He really didn't know how he felt about spirits and past lives….even less about this being some kind of other world. But he had to hope all the talk about Korra having a past life that could help him, Al and Winry were true. His brow furrowed and his arms crossed in thought and worry, his hands drumming on his close –knit arms. To his surprise, Mako was in a similar state of irritation, his face creased and eyes shining with anxiety. Abruptly, he jumped out of his chair and strode toward the door leading toward the hallway.

"Bro! Don't! She said not to follow her!" Bolin called to his brother.

"I'm not!" He protested, turning back "I'm just…going to wait for her outside, okay?"

He was out of sight before Bolin could respond.

"Aaargh, idiot." Bolin groaned, plunking his head down on the table.

Winry smiled happily after the boy.

"He's sure protective of her, isn't he?" she observed in that satisfied tone she always adopted talking about these things. Ed scoffed- even through all this insanity and even in another world, Winry was still a hopeless sap. For some reason, though, the comment seemed to wound Asami.

"Well, considering what happened the last time, I'm not surprised." Bolin said wistfully.

"Why, what happened?" Winry asked.

"Oh yeah, you guys wouldn't know. See, there was this crazy guy (we think he's dead now) and he was all antibender and stuff. He somehow found a way to take people's bending away. The psycho was gonna do it to ALL of us, man! But the long and short of it is Korra took him down but lost her bending. She…pretty much freaked out." He related quietly. "I mean, she got it back from Aang, but…for a while it seemed like we'd lost her, y'know?"

Ed turned his palms over and stared at his hands, hands that once could perform alchemy that had gotten him a government license at twelve. He could feel his brother watching him and memories passed between them, of an emaciated body, of the truth's shock and joy at being beaten, of Ed's gate shattering forever, of going home, finally going home…

Before he could dwell on it much longer, Korra walked back into the room, quickly followed by Mako. She didn't look pleased.

Great.

"So I got some bad news, some more bad news, and some totally insane news." Korra informed them dryly.

"Story of my life." Ed mused just as sarcastically.

And so she told them everything Aang had told her. As she related their conversation, her mother Senna came in with hot drinks for everyone and listened to the story too.

"So, what can we do…?" Winry whispered when she was done.

"Who does this guy think he is, the Truth!?" Ed shouted, to general silence and stares.

"Brother!" Al hissed warningly.

"Uh, never mind. Anyway, how in hell do we get back?"

"Yes" Al interjected. "After all, our purpose in travelling was to learn about alchemy. Alchemy doesn't exist here so there's no texts or experts to draw on- wither we continue researching it or abandon it for the time being we wouldn't know where to start."

"Well, in any case, we can't leave you here. We can take you to Republic City with us. We're going back tomorrow." Korra offered.

"Oh, honey, do you have to go so soon?" Her mother asked.

"Yeah, we do. I'm sorry Mom." She answered regretfully.

"What? You mean you guys don't live here?" Winry questioned.

"Nope. We live at Tenzin's place in the city. You'll love it!"

"Wait, so…you don't live with your mom and dad, Korra?" Al wanted to know.

She smiled sadly. "No. Tenzin couldn't leave the city because of his work and he needed to teach me airbending, so I went to stay with him. It's a big place, so there'll be plenty of room for you."

"I just hope you'll be able to find something helpful there." Asami said.

"He's. So. Cute." Al exclaimed breathlessly, his eyes practically sparkling. Pabu, the object of his comment, was curled up in sleep, twitching and yawning. It was late, and the teens were sitting around the fire in a small room, all glad for company their own age-it made Ed, Al, and Winry less anxious about their bizarre situation.

"I KNOW RIGHT!?" Bolin agreed excitedly.

Ed and Mako exchanged looks, eyebrows raised, that said I swear he's not always this much of a girl. Winry, Korra, and Asami all giggled.

Bolin pouted. "Whatever, you and I both know cute things get cute girls, right, Al?"

"That's right!" Al said with a comically determined expression on his face.

"Tch. Whatever."

"So cruel, Big Bro!" Al sobbed.

"Eh, we'll show 'em, huh, pal?" Bolin said brightly, punching Al lightly on the shoulder. Their older brothers just rolled their eyes. Trying to stifle her laughter at Mako's grouchy expression, Korra addressed Ed.

"So you guys say there's a place like the South Pole where you're from?"

"Yeah, called Mt. Briggs. The three of us where there a few years ago. It's …less pleasant than this place (we got stuck in a blizzard and everything)."

"Say, do they have polar-bear dogs there?"

"Polar-bear dogs?"

"Remind me to introduce you to Naga tomorrow."

Tomorrow. Tomorrow they were going to the city to try and see if they could get home. Ed had been going through everything he knew in his head, planning…If Republic City was anything like Central there must be libraries, museums, courtrooms, plenty of places with things to learn from. But they had no way of knowing if and when they had satisfied this more-of-a-bastard-than-Truth spirit thing. When they had set out, he and Al had no idea how long they were going to be gone, nor did they have a clear game plan. If this Zhi, whatever he was, wanted results, Ed was afraid he'd be sorely disappointed. So, he figured he'd better start thinking of ways to help them the way he always did- with his own power. He could no longer open the Gate, but Al could. He, Ed, could guide him through it. Though Ed didn't have a Gate anymore, he was pretty sure he could get through Al's- their spirits were likely still connected. But even so, they would need a stone to pass through unharmed (he got an involuntary chill at the thought of Al losing his body again). Considering alchemy didn't seem to exist here, he was sure no one had produced one-and he didn't much care to use it even if they did. Not if there was another way. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Winry smiling at him.

"Don't worry, Ed. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."

He smiled back, taking her hand. "I hope so, Winry."

"Don't worry-I promise we'll help you get home." Korra assured them. Mako, Bolin, and Asami smiled encouragingly.

"Well, perhaps we should all turn in?" Asami said. "It sounds like we've all got a long day in store for us tomorrow."

Ed tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It was like the day after they first met Father in his lair- he had been exhausted and unable to think but still he couldn't stop. Now, too, he knew the best thing was to get at least a little rest but his brain refused to shut down. He tried reciting the periodic table of elements in his head to relax but that only gave him a headache. Frustrated and with the reality of the entire hopeless mess they were in sinking in more and more, he hoped out of bed growling. He trudged into the wide open court yard and wordlessly moved through several practice forms. He was hoping it would take his mind off everything and work off some energy so that he could finally get some sleep. He tried to do what Izumi had advised him so long ago when he was studying under her-letting his stress leave him with every solid punch and kick.

"Hey you're not bad, short stuff." Came a voice from behind. Turning around he saw Korra walking in his direction from the door, smirking. "Your roundhouse could use a little work though."

"Heh, yeah, I noticed the last time I sparred with Al. Then again, I never win against him." Ed complained. "So what's up? Couldn't get to bed?"

She shook her head. "Too much has happened. Mako's probably gonna yell at me- I haven't exactly made a habit of sleeping lately."

"Bolin told us a little about what happened."

"Eh, well." She shrugged, wanting to put it behind her. "So, you always do practice forms when you can't sleep?"

"No, but my alchemy teacher always said martial arts strengthen your mind and spirit. Considering our situation, I figured it couldn't hurt."

"That's cool. Do you wanna go a few rounds?"

"Sure! My brother's always tellin' me not to hit girls, but I say I'm not sexist."

"Ha!"

They took stances and swung punches at one another, both barely missing. The next time they both connected squarely, knocking each other back a bit. Their surprised stares turned to slightly evil grins as they charged at each other again. After a few more punches, Korra asked

"Hey did something happen to your right arm?"

"Uh, why, why do you ask?" Ed wondered uneasily.

"Well, your right hook's not as strong as your left. You break your arm before or something, man?"

"Uh, it's uh…kind of a long story." Ed stammered. They hadn't even noticed his automail leg yet. He would have to explain somehow, sometime. It was only fair given that they had taken complete strangers in, were willing to help them and house them.

"Could I explain when we get to the city? I think I should explain it to everyone, and Al and Winry should get a say in it too."

"O...kay?"

"Sorry! It'll make sense, I swear. Or maybe not, there's no alchemy here so I don't know how much of it will make sense to you guys…"

"Huh?"

"Never mind. Anyway, thanks for the match. I think I can sleep now. Well, I can think clearer at least. I'll try to get some sleep again."
"Night, then."

"You turning in?"

"No…no, I think I'm staying up for a bit longer. But hey, I can't wait to show you the training grounds on Air Temple Island."

"Tomorrow then."

"See ya pal."

"How did I know you were out here? Shouldn't you be asleep?" Rang a familiar deep and concerned voice into the open night of the courtyard, making Korra pause in the middle of a cycle of airbending forms. She straightened up with a slight smile.

"And how did I know you'd say that?"

"You did, did you?" Mako laughed, sitting down.

"Yup. Ran into Ed out here just a bit ago." Korra told him, sitting down next to him. Mako pulled her in closer. "I told him you were going to scold me for not sleeping."

"Well, you're not!"

"I know. And neither are you."

"Fair point. So…are you…okay?"

"Yeah…yeah, I'm okay. I…I'm sorry I ran off before. I wanted to tell you I felt the same way, I just…" Korra burst out and was cut off by a tight hug.

"It's alright. I understand. It's all alright now."

"Thanks. For not giving up on me."

"Hey, you didn't give up on me all those times I was a complete jerk to you."

"Yeah, you were a jerk, weren't you?"

"Hey now!"

Korra shot up, laughing. "Welp, guess we should get some sleep. See you in the morning." She said mirthfully, walking back into the compound. Mako smiled softly after her before following her inside to rest up himself.

Next chapter, Republic City!