Edward Elric smirked triumphly as he jabbed a thumb to the large gate behind him. This time, he had won. That was for sure. No more being screwed with and having obstacles thrust in his face to prevent him from achieving his goal. He was going to give Alphonse back everything that he lost.

"This is my Portal of Truth. Which means I get to use it however I please." His face split into a large grin. This was it. "My Portal. Take it, and give me back my brother."

The being known as Truth gaped at the Alchemist slightly in stunned silence, before it was broken only moments later, as it chuckled, multiple voices that made up the being's voice ringing through the space it occupied.

"So... That's your conclusion?" The Truth laughed, sounding almost... Pleased? "I'm impressed, Mr Alchemist. No one has ever came close to that answer. But are you sure about this?" The mocking tone in it's voice irked Edward, but he held his temper, for once in his life.

"I'm sure about this." He answered confidently, eyes blazing with raw determination as he stared down the Truth.

"You'll never be able to use Alchemy again, so think carefully."

Edward closed his eyes, thinking back to the days he used Alchemy, and remembered the joys in gave him. However, with joys, came sadness and grief. Alchemy was like two sides of a coin. It could give the user immense happiness and joy, but it could also bring despair and death along with it. Look at Ishbal. Look at Human Transmuation. Look, at what had nearly occurred today. Alchemy could save lives, but it could take it away, just as quickly.

But... It wasn't necessary to have Alchemy to be happy. Many people didn't use the science, but they lived out their lives, content right to the very end. It only proved that yes, no one actually needed it. Edward did not need it.

All he needed, were the people around him, his friends, who made him so happy. That's all he ever needed.

"I don't need Alchemy." Edward broke into a large smile. "I have all my friends, so what more could I ask for?"

This time, the Truth laughed. It wasn't his mocking one either. It was a genuine laugh, that actually made Edward feel warm inside. "Good job, Mr Alchemist! You've finally reached the right answer!"

The blond smiled, dizzy with happiness, or at least he was, until what the Truth said next. "However, that is one thing I cannot take from you."

Edward gaped at the Truth, feeling his jubilation come crashing down. That... That can't be right! It had to be a mistake! It had to be!

"But- but you said that I-!"

"I know what I said," The Truth interrupted. "But the situation is out of even my hands. Rules apply, after all. If you were any other mortal, I would have taken your Portal. Gladly even. But you aren't a normal mortal, and therefore, I can't treat you as such in this situation."

By this point, Edward was shaking in rage and sorrow, but he still tried to reign in his temper, because one thing the Truth said stood out from his mind. "What do you mean, that I'm not a normal mortal?"

A mocking grin spread across the being's face. "Oh, you haven't noticed? Although that is to be expected, since you don't remember anything after you came crawling to me for a favour."

"I did no such thing, damn it! What the hell are you talking about?!" The temper the Alchemist had been holding back, broke through the dam he had tried to fortify, the rage rushing in like a river.

The grin remained on the Truth's face. "I'll return your so called brother, you've earned that much, I'll give you that. But, you'll resume your true duties."

"What-"

I'll even be nice, and let you say goodbye!"

"What are you-?!"

"Your life, Mr Alchemist, has been a lie." Edward froze at this, horror spreading through his face. "That can't be true! My life hasn't been a lie! It can't have been! You're lying!"

"You accuse the embodiment of Truth of lying. Your denial is much too human. Although I should expect this from the one who wanted to be human, and I quote, 'No matter how short'. But if you truly wish to keep living your lie, you may leave, and your 'brother' will stay."

Edward paused at this, the words sinking in. Now that he thought about it, whatever the Truth was talking about, it didn't seem as if he was going to die. He was just... Going to do something else.

Now, he didn't trust the Truth, but from what it had been saying, it was either one of them who leaves, or both of them, but one would be out of the game, in some sense. In other words, him. Alphonse would return home, safe, And that was all Edward ever wanted.

Closing his eyes, Edward breathed in to calm himself, before his eyes snapped back open. "Give Alphonse back. I don't know what you're talking about still, but I'm not leaving without Al."

The Truth laughed. "As expected of you. Say your goodbyes, you won't ever see your brother again. Not like this, anyway."

Edward, no matter how happy he was to get his brother back, mourned the fact he'll never see Alphonse again. But it's worth it, as long as his dear brother would get what he had sought for during all these years.

"Brother...?" The familiar voice caught his attention, and he whipped around, eyes landing directly on a familiar face, one that Edward longed to see again, after it's owner's soul was sealed into a suit of armour.

"Al...?" Edward asked carefully, afraid that if he wasn't careful, his brother would slip out of his reach once more.

"Brother!" Alphonse exclaimed, hugging the older blond tightly. He could smell.He could feel again.

"Alphonse...!" Edward choked out, bringing his dear younger brother close. He didn't want to leave this moment. Not ever. But time was ticking away, no matter what he did. So the least he could do was savour the moment.

"Brother...?" Alphonse asked cautiously, and Edward nearly cried. Oh god, Alphonse was human again. No more of the metallic echoing in his voice that Edward had gotten so used to.

Alphonse, after spending so long without feeling anything, had grown able to read the atmosphere better, after relying on things people tend to forgo in exchange for the senses they took for granted.

"Al... you won't forget me, right?" Edward choked out through the tears that were beginning to build up in his eyes. He got Alphonse's body back, so he could cry, right?

"Brother, what are you talking about?" Alphonse stared at Edward, unease building up steadily in him. "We did it. We can go home. You promised we would go home together!"

"I'm sorry, Al... there is no other way. I'm sorry... tell everyone, I'm sorry...!"

Alphonse know by then, something was horribly wrong. "Ed, you're not making any sense!"

"I'm not coming back with you."

Crack. Alphonse felt his world coming down.

"But- but why brother?" Alphonse shook, moisture building up in his eyes. "You said you you would! You promised! You promised Winry!" He was falling quickly into hysterics.

"That bastard Truth, he said that I had something else I needed to do. I can't give up my Alchemy, because I'm not like everyone else." Edward said, trying to compose himself as he blinked away his tears. "I wish I could have gone back with you."

Alphonse cried, and for a moment, he wished he was back in the suit of armour, if only it would empty the hollow feeling in his chest. It just wasn't fair.

"Time's up, Mr Alchemist." The Truth's voice reverberated around them, as the large gate behind Edward creaked open, the dark tendrils of the Gate reaching out to grab the older Alchemist.

Alphonse let out a cry, clinging desperately onto his brother as the tendrils latched onto the latter, pulling him backwards.

"Don't forget me, Alphonse." Edward smiled sadly at his brother.

"Brother!" Alphonse screamed, as he watched the last of his family be taken from him, before he blinked away the hot tears from his eyes, eyes blazing with determination. "If you're alive, somewhere in the world, I'll find you! I won't stop looking! Just wait for me!"

"Alphonse... I'll wait too. Even if what the Truth said was true." With that, the doors slammed shut, enveloping Edward in darkness.

"Welcome back, Mr Al-che-mist. Or should I say, Mr A-mes-tris?"

Knowledge poured itself into his brain, images flashing through his mind. Everything about Amestris. Resembool, Youswell, Rush Valley, Dublith, Central City, Liore, East City, Fort Briggs, everywhere.

Emotions rushed through him, and suddenly, he felt everything. The citizens happiness, their anguish, their disappointment, their anger.

He felt it all.

Suddenly, Edward knew. He was alive because of his citizens. They made up who he was. He wasn't Edward Elric.

He was the country.

He was Amestris.

Then it all went dark.

Elsewhere, weeks after the Promised Day, near the outskirts of the country's border which separated Creta from Amestris, a large pair of golden eyes that seemed duller than usual blinked, staring up to the cloudless blue sky.

Slowly, as he sat up, he tilted his head, feeling confused. "Am I... Amestris?" He tested the words on his tongue, satisfied with how the words comfortably rolled off his tongue, despite his speech being slow. He knew everything that had happened to him, but something in his memory was missing. But, he knew enough, to know that he was all alone, with Xerxes gone.

"Am I... alone?" The small boy asked to himself, staring at empty air. "Why... do I feel so... lonely?"

A small hand clutched the folds of his clothing, directly over his chest. "Why does it... hurt?"

A rustle of leaves, and the snap of branches underneath someone's boot. Annoyed mutterings reached the boy's ears.

"Ungrateful gits... Wasted so much time... bloody hell..." The voice drew nearer, and soon, the foliage that served as a cover to the small clearing the young boy resided in was pushed aside.

The voice paused in it's mutterings. Emerald eyes stared in astonishment at the young boy, who stared back emotionlessly with golden eyes.

"Who... are you?" He asked slowly, cocking his head to the side in question as he asked the man with emerald eyes. Something about this man was different. He felt like him. His presence screamed powerful. He was just like the small boy. And that frightened him.

The man smiled, trying to appear less threatening in the boy's eyes. "Hello there. What is a young boy such as yourself doing out here in the wilderness?"

"This... is my home... now that... mama is... gone. I can't... find her." The small nation mumbled, dragging out his sentences. "Why did she... leave? I... don't want to be... alone." He mumbled the last part to himself, not meant for anyone else's ears but his own. However, the man heard his quiet words and frowned pitifully.

"Do you not have anyone to take care of you?" The man asked, frown still on his face.

"No... I'm still... all alone..."

The man walked, leaves crunching beneath his feet as he moved closer to the boy who tensed ever so slightly, before he reached his front crouching down, he smiled in a friendly manner. "What's your name lad?"

The younger thought about it for a few moments. "I'm Amestris... Who... are you?"

"I'm England." He held out a hand to Amestris. "You don't have to be alone anymore."

Amestris stared at the hand for several moments, before slowly, a small smile creeped onto his face as his eyes began to twinkle with childish happiness for the first time, becoming a vibrant shade of gold. Placing his own small hand on top of England's, his face seemed to glow with happiness. "Thank you!"

He wasn't alone anymore.

[A/N ... I plead the fifth? But seriously guys. I was bored, I had no inspiration for my other stories, and I recently got into Hetalia, so what can I say? I could just leave this as a one shot, but I really don't want to, so... Yeah. This is now a story, since I don't see many like what I just wrote, and I'm absolutely brimming with ideas. I love the FACE family, and I love Ed's character too, so I thought this would be fun if I put in England. Also, this DOES have a storyline, even though I'm making some fluffy family moments. Lastly, my other stories WILL be updated in due time, once I've found where I've put my motivation. And this is un-beta'ed.

~ Gwntan12]