Soo good! I had lot's of feels over this story! I cried for Ed, he suffered a lot ;_; I felt Ed's pain myself while picturing the scenes in my head, since I know Al's character from canon, I was myself getting frustrated with his lack of emotions and reactions. For Ed, that was too heartbreakening. I was just stunned when Al asked Ed why he should call him "brother" It's like I was inside the story myself. I wanted to scream.

If Al was like this in canon, I doubt he's be loved as much tho. We have an idea of what would his character be like from all the times he said "if I had my soul I would do this and that..." but we'd only be able to see his real character in the scenes before the transmutation, flashbacks and in the few scenes after he gets his would back.
In canon, soulless bodies don't behave like that, Al's body at the gate did feel emotions and made expressions, he just seemed to have less memories and was lacking some of his intelligence. I like what you did better though, it's more interesting and it helps Al contribute to the plot often rather than being a burden (not that Ed would mind anyway).
Also, I don't think Ed would be so short in this AU since Al's body doesn't receive It's growth from him, but that's a minor thing here since It's only recieved one sentience.
I love everything in this story, but my favorite scene is the reunion scene, it was so emotional I read it over and over ;_; i loved the battle with scar too, I didn't know if I should laugh or cry at Al's "I cannot, my ankle is badly sprained".

My only complaint is there was no hug scene between Ed and Soulless Al, which strikes me as odd because Ed is specially more emotional in this AU. He only wished Al would be the one to initiate contact while completely forgetting he can do it as well, specially because he swore to treat Al the same way as he used to. I'm pretty sure he did hug him often off screen I'm just saying I wish I read about it :3
Which also made me wish this story had more chapters, there was lots of potential there to mirror canon events, like when Al met Barry the chopper, here he could meet a soulless body and stuff might happen. If I were a writer myself I would ask for your permission to write stories for this AU.

Thank you for telling me that this exists.

I love the idea that, just like Ed had once been covering the needs of both his and Al's body, he now felt his own emotions and those of Al. (Al wanted to punch himself SO bad. XD)

I'm not sure how I feel about all of the Stone being used on them (ugh, they're sooo selfish! :P), but I have to greatly agree that the world is much better with their existence. Their WHOLE existences, with everything that makes them the wonderful people they are.

Ed and Al need a LOT of hugs after all of that. I wanna hug them. Please let me hug them. ;u;

You never cease to amaze me. *favorites yet another of your stories*

Guess next on my reading list is the story that the idea for this one derived from! :D

A fun riff on the story. You left me wondering if the brothers can still use alchemy.

The final line fittingly links to the opening, like an ouroboros. ;)

Interesting that Ed seemingly becomes more emotional to compensate for Al's void of feeling. Especially since Edward isn't exactly meek in canon. Heh heh.

Interesting premise. I read your other FMA story 'What Should Never Be' and so of course I am thinking of soulless Sam Winchester right now. ;) (Who am I kidding; I would have thought of Sam and Dean regardless, but I know I can mention them to you.)

The relationships between the Elrics and Mustang's unit might be totally different in this story, and wanting to see how those develop has me hooked.

This is really interesting! And totally what I didn't know I was looking for when I searched for Al keeping his body. I absolutely loved it. And the feels! So good! Thank you so much for writing this! -Jesi Ki Kage

* loud screeching noises *

AAGH THAT WAS PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL AND OMG
THANK YOU

Aww... :3 This is a very nice and creative piece of work! What an interesting concept... and you played it quite well, I must say. The writing was a bit weak in places—sort of first-draft-ish, if you will—and the first stretch of the final chapter felt a bit arbitrary, but it was still overall a very worthwhile read.

Your reasoning (or lack thereof) about the body, soul, and spirit reminded me of the Cleansing Seminar that I took earlier this year. Pastor Timothy Davis broke it down like this: the human being is composed of three parts – body, soul, and spirit. The body is the material container for our spirit, which is the eternal part of us that is made in the image and likeness of God. The soul, then, is sort of like the tie between our spirit and our body, and is itself composed of three parts: mind, will, and emotions – three things that are not unique to humans, but that thrive in humans above all other created things. Of course, this reasoning doesn't quite transfer over to the FMA universe, but you still reminded me of it. :)

I think what you did with Al basically losing his emotions was a pretty good interpretation to fit within the reality of FMA. I liked how, even without his emotions, Al had the sense to know/wonder what he would want if he had his soul. That was a nice touch. And it was interesting to see the similarities and differences in the emotional impact on Ed when the dynamic is shifted like this.

Father laughed, a cold laugh that send shivers down Ed's spine. – 'sent'

"What are you going to do, van Hohenheim? Kill me?" – You would capitalize 'Van,' wouldn't you?

But that was just the thing. He needed no reason to love his little brother. – This makes me think of God's love. :3 One of my pastors once said that he always asks his son why he loves him, and his son always rolls his eyes and says, “It's 'cause I'm your son.” X3

It was like the sun breaking over the horizon. – Love this. :D

"I can't stand tragic heroes,” – Love this even more. XD

This is an AU that has never before crossed my mind. Somehow... Somehow it's more chilling than what actually happened. Poor Ed... I'd say poor Al, but actually it sounds like he didn't really suffer much because of this.

I love the ending. They WOULD use the stone, wouldn't they? Love Al hugging everyone. So sweet and so Al.

Great idea, lovely execution.

Oh, man. That last part...hit me...right there. Right in that special place that is the source of all emotion. This is more than an alternate retelling. It takes the reunion everyone wished for and imagined in their hearts, your own brand of angst, the love and friendship central to FMA, and combines them into a powerful, yet tender, single piece of art. This is the inspiring side of fanfiction.

The notion of reversing Al's loss could have gone very badly, but I like how you handled it. At first, it was kind of creepy. The idea of soulless Alphonse just made me shudder. For some reason, every time you mentioned the empty, dispassionate eyes, or cold logic, I had an image of Selim Bradley as Pride in my mind.

On another note, this story reminded me of "A Brother's Burden" by Bookwrm389 (a great fic that I highly recommend).

Well, I eternally salute your writing talent. Over and out!

And, finally, I'm reviewing this. I should have the first time I read it. Or at least by the third time. And, why it wasn't on my favorites before this is beyond me because wanting to read something over and over is one of the biggest factors in how I pick favorites. Well, I'm correcting all that now.

I really love this. I love the idea, the flip-flop of Ed pulling out Al's body rather than his soul, and the way you examine the cascade of changes it causes. One of my favorite details is the idea of Ed channeling Al's emotions. It's such a nice mirror to the canon - as the brothers' bodies were connected in canon, their minds/emotions are connected in this.

And, the *ending*! The concept is what hooked me, but the ending is why I keep coming back to read it again and again. That moment when Al finally calls Ed "Brother" never fails to get to me, forcing me to sniffle or smile or both all at once. And, Ed's response! "It was like the sun breaking over the horizon," indeed. Oh, I can just imagine that smile. And then, Mustang and Ling's explanations for using the Stone are so absolutely, perfectly in character. I think I always finish this with yet another great, big grin.

Ahhh~ so emotional~! (because of this story, I spent the whole school day trying to be emotionless to see what it would be like :P not very fun...) And... I should've done it sooner, so Imma make you one of my favorite authors

ohgodpleaseanswer'brother?'pleasesay'brother'pleaseanswer'brother'pleasealplease oh yes thank you, I squeaked-meeped-groaned.

ok wow. Just, wow. I think...this is the most you've made me cry. (That sounds horrible. XD But never doubt that I enjoy every tear!) First...I didn't cry, and I wondered if I had become immune, and that felt horrible. But then I came to "Al parted his lips and croaked out, "Brother..."" I started to tear up, and after "There are some things we can do without," Ling said with a grin, "but there are some things we can't." I just...wow, collapsed a bit, I guess. Shaking, tears streaming, all that.

(The Al&Mustang-hug is the. best. thing. ever.)

I've always been a bit hesitantly allured by the scenario where "everyone" is witness to Al's return. Now I've read two fanfics, and then we got the manga, and it really settles that there are so many important people in the brohters' life. I think I like it like that. Sure they would like some alone time, but maaaaaaooooo, I like this.

Amazing idea, incredibly performed. *applauds and hugs*

I will continue tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that, hopefully.

"He was determined to treat Al just the same as ever, and after five years spent day in and day out with Al, he was a pro at it." - :'(

So Al still fights at least. I almost imagined him just standing there. But I think you explained well what and why the body "wants".

OH FUDGEMUFFIN. I now realise how INCREDIBLY depressing and dark the manga would have been if this was how it went. I realise because of "If I had my soul," Al said, "I would reprimand you for throwing your life away for my sake.", and that's it. That "reprimand" as he so coldly put it, makes the original chapter. It breaks them out of the post-Nina trauma. Without it...*shakes head* And the whole "Do you hate me?"-thing, that I think is coming now it seems! *reads on* Ah, yes it was.

...*deep breath* I actually wispered "Oh my goodness!" (yes, in english :P) to myself when I read "Well...the question is... Do you still love me?". I think...I just want to stop reading here...But I know I wont...But I really want to...*relieved sigh* That worked out fine, despite body!Al's complicated logic.

"But he could never shake off the feeling that he was venting some of Al's emotions besides his own." - Oh? Did you think of this as a reflection of how Ed eats for Al's body in the original story? Makes sense, since that is what Al couldn't do in the manga, and here he can't show emotions.

"Ed launched himself forward and punched Al in the face." - WOAH. omg haha, Their souls or minds are connected! XD You tell your body Al! If I interpretated this right, soul!Al have a notion of what's going on in the world? Well at least in Ed's world.

(*silent weeeeeee~~ for the manganess of Olivier, Mei and Lingbodyguards*)

"bodyguards could never sense him as they could others." - *ooh-ing and aah-ing for your cleverness*

"If I had a soul, I would be happy to hear that." - *gaspeli-gasp gasp* I almost started crying...

("He wanted to hear one of those corny jokes Al used to tell when they were small." - *suddenly visions Marina or Emily laughing her head of for some incredily stupid joke Al just pulled!* XD)

This is such a brilliant concept! Really! I just...It's really thought provoking and slightly mind boogling.

*reading* I wonder where this is going...Oh right! First I was all "Why is he surprised about his arm and leg? They were already gone. And why haven't he once thought about Al getting his body back?" Then I remembered the Athor's Note said it was AU. XD Oh, how I would like to have a working memory sometimes...

Oh goodness lord and all that! I was picturing this all in my head very clearly, and when it came to "His empty gold eyes. And Ed began to scream." I startled a little. It was quite painful to imagine.

OH DEAR GOODNESS AGAIN. You're so smart with all you plotness! *groans* He got his body, not the soul! Brilliant idea for a fic!

Ow, now I am slightly disappointed at myself for not noticing how Al called him 'Edward' the first time. *huff huff*

*squee* Al let his hair grow~

There's so many things to consider when Al is like this...You mastered the State Alchemist Exam, for example. And just little things; I don't think they will spar, will they? Who will hold Ed back when he explodes? How long will Ed keep his sanity? I mena, this is WAY worse than Al loosing his body...