Equivalent exchange

Chapter 4

It had been a week since he had tried to tell anyone he was not the real Ed of this world. Everyone he tried to explain it to thought he was recovering from the accident, or hallucinating. So he gave up on that for a bit.

Ed was in the woods, near the lake practicing. He was still a little off with his flesh limbs, he could feel something was not right, it was like the feeling of the air right before a storm something was about to happen.
It came out of nowhere, his attacker was fast and agile and familiar. the wild green spikes were a dead give away.
Envy
Ed dived out of the way before he was injured again by the psychopathic homunculus
"I finally found you Chibi," Envy growled.
"What the hell are you talking about?" He growled back. It might be best to not let the insane homunculus know he knew him. Maybe Envy would believe he wasn't the Ed of his own world...he would stop trying to kill him...or at least it would give him an edge.
"Where the hell are we?"
"Who are you?"
Unfortunately for him, Envy limbs remained unchanged, giving him the distinct advantage.
Within a minute Edward was pinned to the ground, Envy's wild locks hanging down over his face.
"Don't play stupid with me."
"Listen freak, I have no idea who you are or what you are talking about." He yelled pushing the mad man off of himself he ran for the house.

Envy watched the boy run off it might not be his Ed but it might be fun to find out more and maybe kill everyone here as well then find a way back to kill his Ed and send Al to him. He smirked evilly and took his old form following the younger boy, he might just send everyone in this place to the gate in exchange for going and doing just that.

Most of the group were taking their day off seriously, Al had decided to take this time to actually get something accomplished, it would be Will's birthday soon and he had to find his brother just the right thing he was bad about that always trying to do better then he had the year before. He rarely succeeded but he tried anyway. Not that his brothers really minded. He had elected to sit out on the low stone wall surrounding the garden. As he was working a shadow fell over him and he quickly covered the arrays. Looking up, he was surprised by the intruder.
"Will! I thought you were in town with Roy."
"I was,but I got tired of hanging around with him."
"And you got lonely?" Al finished moving over on the wall, a clear invitation for his brother to sit.
Envy sat and looked the youngest Elric over. He had only once seen him as a human, and that had been years ago when he was six ;crying over his mother's grave.
"So what are you doing?".
"Oh nothing just some homework, this array father gave us to work on is a bit confusing."
Leaning to inspect it the homunculus was blocked by Alphonse "Do you want some help?" he inquired blandly.
"No, that's' alright." He leaned back on Will, longing for some contact,but the elder boy was keeping his distance. A quick glance confirmed they were truly alone in the garden,so what was wrong? William never missed an opportunity to molest him, he enjoyed the affection... He looked up into his brothers eyes seeing something different ,something he wasn't sure he liked.
"Will is anything wrong?"
"No, why?"
"We've been sitting here for two minutes and haven't even tried to kiss me." he pouted.
The golden eyes widened in fear.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Nearly caught, the homnocullus sought to avail himself.
"No of course not Alphonse,"he began , his tone honey smooth "I was just thinking"
The fear vanished replaced by intrigue "About what?"
"About how much I love you"
Though the thought was a lie, it could be the just the right hammer used to drive a spike through Edward Elric's heart. No matter how clever he was Envy was surprised by the kiss of a 15 year old boy. He was forced to respond favorably lest his new plan be derailed too soon. To his credit the youngest Elric wasn't that bad of a kisser. He leaned back and took "William's" hands in his own a cheerful smile and faint blush on his face.
It was then it dawned on the homunculus the severity of his situation. If Alphonse knew him in this world as who he should have been, how did he exist in this world and where was he?

As Al looked at the impostor William came around the back looking for his younger brothers having seen neither of them for a few hours he was almost worried. He saw Al on the low stone wall and someone close to him..
"Al!" he called the younger blond looked at him, then at the other one.
"Will? What's this?"
"A trick." Envy wrapped his arms around Al and dragged him off the wall standing up the homunculus smirked holding a knife at the boys throat. "Just doing something I've always wanted to do"
"Put my baby brother down." Will attacked him flying at the impostor.
Envy winced as Will collided with him. He struck the ground and reverted to his true shape. Al rolled away and was at his brother's side in an instant.
"What is that?"Al cried at his savior.
"I don't know, are you ok?"
Before either could answer, Ed dashed up towards him, panting.
"Al , Will!"
He saw Envy down and Will and Al ready to fight. "Never mind."
"What is it Ed?"
"That mad man attacked me in the woods." He noticed Envy's sudden lethargy as the monster stood finally stood up and glared at the three of them.
"I'm going to kill you, Then everybody else here." He threatened.
"You don't seem good enough for that, who ever you are, and how did you do that?"
"Envy a monster and once I find out how you did this to me, I'm going to kill you."
"Broken record, what do we do with him?"
"Shouldn't we take him to father?"
"No, he might hurt him let's put him in the old shed no one uses it anymore and if we find away to keep him quiet until we can find out what's going on." Ed told his brothers.
"Fine but how do we keep him there?" Al asked.
"We'll figure it out lets just get him there before someone comes home we're lucky no one's caught us yet." Will said grabbing Envy's wrist the monster seemed to wilt as he touched him.
They managed to get him to the old shed that once held the gardening tools before the new one had been build. Al dug up some rope and Envy was soon bound. The floor was transmuted a bit to hold his hands and feet. Envy struggled but was still weakened from Will's proximity. He glared at Will, then at the two younger Elrics. He would kill them and then his father. He smirked as they set up a few arrays to try and make sure no one came in or he got out. Ed subtly drew an array that he had learned held the homunculus,behind Envy's shoulder and one just beyond his feet where the creature wouldn't see them. They left him there gagged and bound by both the ropes and alchemy they had to have a plan to deal with this guy luckily no one used the shed.

The three of them left the shed to talk away from the creature that had had will's face Ed frowned unable to believe Envy had followed him here. he had to tell the others even if Will ahd made him promise not to tell. he saw the look on the elder brother's face.
"All right now what do we do?"
"He wants to kill us and we don;'t even know him." Al said.
"He seems to know us though or at least you and Ed."
"No he knew Will too because he tried to kiss me."
"Now can I hurt him?"
"No brother we have to figure out what to do with him. you can maim him for touching Al later."
"Fine."
"He seemed to weaken around Will too."
"Yeah that was weird
"Very come on we should go to one of our rooms and talk about this."
"Fine Will's."

they headed back for the house seeing Russell and Winry by the kitchen door talking. Winry was holding the basket their mother usually sent to market for things she needed. Russell was leaning on the wall and she was standing there from the looks of it russell was flirting with her.
"Hey Russell winry what;s up?" Ed asked the two pulled away form eachother quickly Winry blushing brightly.
"Hi Ed what brings you here?" Russell asked.
"Well i kind of live here and the three of us were going to the kitchen."
"Just don't eat everything in there it wont help you grow unless you drink the milk."
"who are you calling short."
"you,"
"Russ we have to go aunt Trisha wants us to get some things form town." Winry pulled his arm.
"Right later guys."
"By Russell, Winry." Al called.
"Later Al."

they went into the kitchen where Trisha and Mason were working on something Trisha was apparently making a pie form the smells filling the kitchen.
"hi mom."
"oh boys there you are where have the three of you been?"
"I was in town apparently these two were in the classroom."
"We weren't' blowing anything up."
"I'm sure you weren't." she smiled.
"Yeah we would have heard it." Mason grinned.
"Okay now I'm dragging them upstairs and see if we can decipher dad's handwriting."
"all right boys I'll call you down for dinner."
"Thanks mom."

Will dragged Al and Ed upstairs and they entered his rom he locked the door as Ed fell into his desk chair and Al flopped onto the bed. Will sat next to Al.
They looked at one another for a moment. Ed and Will looked the most alike in coloration but ed and Al had the same shape to their features, Al though had more of their mother's coloration.
"So what do we know?"
"Well the guys mad and can look like Will he apparently wants to kill us and father though as far as i know he's never met us."
"Right maybe he has something to do with my mother." Will mused.
"That would explain the disliking ed and I but why father?"
"He left her for some reason he's never told us and I can't remember because I was only three."

After dinner Ed went to see envy by himself carrying with him some hairs taken form Will's brush.

the insane homunculus was still there struggling to get free. he looked up as ed entered and locked the shed behind him. Envy looked up and grinned.
"Well Edward her e to ask how I got here."
"I'm wondering who the hell you are and why you threatened my family. and if you have any knowledge of the woman Dante?"
"I hate you all and you know why."
"No I don't as far as i know you're a crazy man who threatened my family which i do not tolerate and as far as I know you have something to do with Will's mother who I know is a serious bitch. but for some reason Will's presence weakens you even just his hair."
"I'm a homunculus a created human my father made me after I died as a young man now I'm this monster and he abandoned us."
"Homunculus don't exists." Will said form behind Ed, he and Al stood there at the open door. "And you shouldn't have come up here alone Ed."
"I wanted to know that's all."
"Curiosity killed the cat Edward." Envy sneered.
"I'm not a cat."
"but you're bad enough."
"How cute, brotherly love." envy sneered. "i liked it better the last time I saw you, a hole in your chest bleeding all over the ground with Alphonse and Rose screaming for you."
"Why you." Ed went to hit him and Will stopped him.
"Don't Ed he's trying to provoke you."
"I know this guys a freak we should just call the police or something."
"Yeah tell them you locked me up here using alchemy besides the moment i'm free you are all dead."
"After you tried to kill Al."
"with what knife?" he asked them.
"he's right we have no weapon and besides the military would probably want to test him."
"fine but what are we going to do?"
"Stop coming in here." Will said dragging his brothers out of the room. Making sure to lock the shed behind them.

The next day at breakfast, once again Hoienhiem and Izumi were gone this time to the capitol to talk to some old friends of theirs. Roy kept watching Ed giving him odd looks. Ed ignored them as best he could giving him a smile once in a while. Fletcher kept chattering with Michael about something he had found in town.
Russell and Winry talked quietly once in a while talking with one of the others. as they ate some one knocked on the front door Will went ot get it and everyone heard the result.
"Will you've gotten huge want to see pictures of my little angel?" Hughes voice drifted to them.
"um sure everyone;s having breakfast Meas want to join us?"
"In a moment your father's right behind me."

Will returned to the dinning. room followed by Hoenheim, Izumi, Meas Hughes, a blonde woman and a man who looked like Scar except he didn't have the scar and was smiling.
"Trisha, great to see you again beautiful as always, Roy you're looking great."
Ed watched HUes jump along the table greeting everyone he was stunned to see the man. Hughes got to him and smiled broadly.
"Edo you're looking better then last time i saw you." he hugged the boy who hugged him back glad to see him even if it wasn't his Huges.
"I even have pictures of my sweet angel with me for everyone to see." He let Ed go and pulled a thick pile of photo's from his coat.
The blonde woman had nodded greeting to everyone and had walked over to Armstrong who had stood to greet her.
"Riza it's good to see you again."
"You could come visit more often."

Ed was startled by the man who reminded him of Scar as Al hugged the man and he patted the younger boy on the head then mused Ed's.
"Ed you've grown."
"Of course I have."
"don't lie to him he's as short as ever." Will smiled.
"Who are you calling short?"
"You shrimp."
"Break it up boys you should behave when there's company."
"But they're not company Izumi every one of them has been here before." Al smiled.
"True." Riza smiled
"They are still company boys,:"Hohenheim sighed and took his normal seat as the other three took seats which mason brought in.
"Yes father." Ed smiled the other two mimicking him, Hohenheim shook his head he know the three of them together was trouble.

the group settled down and talked, Huges wanted to tell everyone about Elisa'a latest ventures as loudly as possible. Armstrong invited Riza for a stroll after breakfast, and the man who was like scar talked with Roy and Hoienhiem like old friends ed had to remind himself this was not scar this man was totally different besides his scar was dead.
"So where's Celia and the brats?" Will asked.
"They're in town at the moment." he said with w wry smile. "Leo wanted to see something and Rick followed Celia told me to go ahead here they would catch up."
"They'll probably be here later anyway whatever Leo saw he will no doubt want to show to Ed geeze kids just flock to you little brother." Will laughed.
"Must be because he looks like a kid himself."
"Who are you calling shorter than a five year old?" Ed yelled at Russell who smiled calmly.
"I don't know I don't see anyone that short but then they wouldn't be able to reach the table."
"that's enough you two why don;t you take the dishes away and wash them Russell, Ed go help set up the guest rooms for our company." Trisha told the two and they went with out another word.

Al followed Ed to help with the rooms more to make sure he was okay then anything else. Mittens was once again on the stairs and was summarily picked up to prevent her from tripping anyone and put in Al's room since Leo was allergic to cats.
"Brother are you okay?"
"I'm fine Al her help me with this coverlet will you?"
'Sure."

they worked in silence for while Winry and Lyra showing up to help a little while later. The four worked quickly finishing up the rooms as they heard something run up the stairs.
"Edo."
"Ed-nissan!" two missiles knocked the boy over two boys the older about ten and younger about six sat on him. Both had brown hair and eyes. The younger was in brown pants and a tan shirt with a white bandana like hat. The older was in tan pants and a white shirt.
"Hi boys." ed wheezed. "Mind getting off now I cant breathe."
"you guys should be more careful any way ed was hurt a week ago." Al told them.
"Oh yeah we heard." Leo said eyes wide. "Are you okay Ed-nissan poppa said you were out for a while."
"i'm fine you guys if you get off my ribs that is."

Both boys climbed off him and he got up dusting himself off.
"Okay well what now?"
"can you show us some Alchemy?" Rick asked.
"Yeah you always make cool stuff."
"All right some one we'll play around with some things."
"Yay."

the boys were easily entertained by simple alchemy circles to make toys and the like. they were not used to alchemy as neither parent used it and neither of them had the skill either. they told him their uncle had it and he was off training in it elsewhere.
he made them a couple of toys and Al joined him they made forts and had a small war. Ed was big on Attack and he and rick attacked Al and Leo who were more defense. after a couple of hours their parents came ot find them.
"nice fort very good workmanship."
"thanks."
"Alright kids lunch time."
"Yeah food." Rick ran for the house.

"Ed and I'll catch up with you." Will said as everyone headed inside."
"All right." Al said and followed everyone else inside.

"What is it Will?"
"That weird guys gone."
"What?"
"I went to check on him and he was gone."
"How did he get away?"
"No clue."
The tow headed for the shed and Ed saw that the door to the shed was gone and so was Envy.
"this is not good."
"No it's not."
A quick search told him that yes envy was gone. he pulled a strand of hair out of his pocket and handed it to Will who took it with no problem.
"No Ed It's the real me."
"I know just checking come on let's go have lunch and tell Al."

TBC.