Here's the fourth and (maybe?) final installment! It contains a confrontation I think you'll all be happy to see.

And to the reviewer "James", thanks for the random spam. I think.

Ed vaguely registered Hohenheim standing from the table. "I'll be back." The next time Ed looked up, the quiet man was gone. Shrugging, Ed looked back down at the research.

Hohenheim had a treasure trove of research Ed had never seen, things he had taken when he had left in his original universe. Most important, however, was the theoretical research into natural energies and alchemy. Alchemy used the energy in nature to alter the chemical and physical makeup of the environment. Alchemists were people who were not only able to grasp the math of the change mentally, but had the ability to tap into their own natural energy to start the process. Everyone had the ability to tap to their own energy, but some had a better grasp on it then others.

What was interesting about the theory was that it hypothesized using ones energy to go further, to tap into the natural energy of the stars and channel it into a large array. The theory was unfinished, however, and finishing it was what Ed and Hohenheim had been trying to do for the past three days. Progress was slow, but it was the only lead they had.

Ed had use of the guest room, but he was barely there. Up before anyone else, he would eat breakfast alone before cracking into the books. Hohenheim brought him lunch after realizing it was futile to try and get him to leave the study during the day. At night, he waited until everyone else had gone to bed before raiding the kitchen, and then falling asleep.

The cycle was started by his avoidance of Trisha, but inevitably ended up in him avoiding everyone but his bastard father's alter. Trisha, noting how uncomfortable he was in her presence, didn't press. The alter Ed and Al didn't even know he was there until a day and a half into his stay, when he heard Hohenheim explaining the basics of the situation to them. Al had been respectful, and kept his distance, but alter Ed was always hovering around the study, hoping for a rare glimpse of his other self. It pissed off Ed, but as long as the alter didn't come in, he could deal.

Speak of the devil.

The door creaked open, and Ed's eyes automatically snapped up to see his other self sauntering in. Gripping his pen tighter, he looked back down at his notes, and attempted to ignore the other teen.

His alter chose that moment to sit on the desk. "Man, you're good at getting Mom to go away," he grumbled, fingers tapping. "She always bugs me to eat and clean and crap, but you get left alone. It's annoying, right?"

Ed continued to write, ignoring his double.Maybe he'll go away…

No such luck.

"And Winry," the other Ed laughed. "You spent two days with her? How'd you stand it?"

Seeing red, Ed cracked open another text and scanned the page.

Alter Ed hopped off the table and held his hand out, fingers spread. "I always thought automail was cool. It's stronger then bone and skin, right?" One hand balled into a fist and punched the air. "You can get other things installed, too. Is that why you got automail?" He paused, waiting for a response.

Deciding he had nothing to lose, Ed set down the book. "No, it's not. Now go away."

"You sound irritated," teased the alter. "Why's that? We're the same person, after all, minus your super alchemist ways. And it was just a question."

"Trust me, you and I couldn't be more different." The pressure was building.

"Yeah, right," scoffed the alter.

Ed snapped. "You are a little brat who hasn't grown up yet. You don't respect anyone, and you think the world should bow down at your feet. Do you even know how lucky you are?"

His alter snorted. "Lucky? Ha. I have a naggy mom, an anti social dad, and a snotty little brother. I'm stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere. You call that lucky?"

"Yes, I do. Pull your head out of your ass and count your blessings."

"My mom-"

Ed couldn't take it anymore. He rose to his feet and advanced on the twerp, who backed up at the visible rage. "Be glad she's alive," he snarled. "My dad left when I was three. My mom died when I was still a kid. My stupid mistake took my brother. You think you have it hard?" Ed's automail finger jabbed itself into his alters chest. "I apprenticed under an alchemist who's idea of training was to throw me and Al onto an island alone for a month, with just a knife. I lost a leg and sacrificed an arm to keep Al alive. I endured automail surgery with the installation of two ports before I was twelve. I joined the military as the youngest alchemist ever in order to find a way to restore my brother.

"On top of that, my-" jab "-entire-" jab "-country is run by a fucking psychopath who has some sort of connection to my bastard deadbeat father, and he wants to use me and my brother for some devious plan that could include sending me off to war, to kill, just because I'm an alchemist working for the state."

Ed took a deep breath. "I'm not the only one. A little girl I viewed as a sister was used in an alchemic experiment, and then brutally murdered. Winry's parents died right before Mom did. A man I saw as a guiding figure was murdered, looking up information he wasn't supposed to on my behalf. I'm constantly beaten to the brink of death, just trying to survive long enough to get Al his body back. And Al- he's just a soul in a suit of armor, that same one behind you. He can't feel, he can't sleep, he can't eat, and he's been that way for four years.

"You sit here, with your whole family, in a still standing house, with people who love you despite of your asshole ways, and you have the nerve to say you have it bad? You have no damn idea. Grow up." Ed stepped back. "Now get out before I regret something."

His alter couldn't scamper out fast enough.

"I heard."

Ed looked up from his sketch. "What?"

Hohenheim set down his own book. "When Edward came in here earlier. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I ended up right outside."

Ed's face flamed. "Er…"

"I know I can't give proper advice," Hohenheim started, adjusting his glasses, "seeing as how I've not been where you have, but I can say that I'm sure my counter had a very good reason to leave. In fact, I know he did. And he loves you very much."

Ed grabbed his pen again, refusing to acknowledge anything but the paper. There is no good reason to leave your family with no contact. None.

Another few moments passed in silence. Ed thought Hohenheim was done speaking, but then- "I think I've found enough energy to be able to power the array. As long as you can still make the array itself-"

"I can!" Ed protested.

"-we can do this today," continued Hohenheim, speaking right over Ed. "You said you needed iron?

"Yes," Ed grumbled. "Enough to meet these specifications." He shoved a paper at Hohenheim, who studied it briefly. "And enough space."

Hohenheim nodded. "I can get the iron, and we can go outside. I can destroy the array once you've been sent over."

If he had to have waited another day, he'd have gone insane, Ed decided. There was a reason people didn't travel dimensions.

It was raining again, heavy sheets that drenched everything it could touch. Trees didn't provide much shelter, and Ed shivered as his hood slipped off his head yet again. He'd managed to alter his coat just enough to make it waterproof, but with the wind blowing it off every few feet, it was almost pointless.

Ironically, the array dropped him off in the remains of his old house. The rain hadn't started until after he arrived, ominous clouds rolling overhead. It was all he could do to stay on the road and make it to the Rockbells..

Sooner then he expected (the rain really got him disoriented), the worn, yellow house was in front of him. He wasted no time, bounding up the steps and yanking the door open.

Inside, sitting on the couch with a book, was Winry. She jumped to her feet at the slam of the door. "Ed! You're dripping wet! What're you doing in the rain?"

Ignoring her exclamation, he took four steps towards her and swept her into a hug. She squeaked, dropping the book onto the floor with a bang. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"EDWARD ELRIC. YOU ARE COVERED IN WATER. PUT ME DOWN."

Because, of course, that has to be Winry's reaction. :D

I have an idea for another chapter/s, but not the motivation to write it. So maybe if you bug me with reviews, it'll get done?

Also, this entire story was up on my tumblr well over a month ago. It's where I post all of my works first, long before they make their way over here. Go follow me for frequent updates. My URL is "masterhawki".

Review, it feed the ever hungry muse! (and may prompt another chapter out of me!)

Wryder