"But how are we going to explain it? It's one thing to tell the truth to the Brigadier-General, but what about everyone else? 'The infamous Fullmetal Alchemist is back and he's a girl.' People are going to freak out Sis."
"I doubt anyone's going to be that concerned Al. I've been gone for four years. Any infamy of mine is probably long forgotten." Ed shrugged Al's concern away. She honestly did not think that anyone would be that interested in her return. Time dulled memories, people forgot and moved on.
"There are legends about you, Sis."
"That's just stupid, Al. Who'd be idiotic enough to believe things like that? We did what we did because we had to, Al. You were there, you know that. We never wanted any sort of public recognition for what we did. Just knowing we had helped was enough for us. Besides, it's not like we set out to do any of that, it just happened along the way."
Al sighed and rolled his eyes. Ed was just not going to believe him until she saw the truth with her own eyes and then all hell would break loose. He returned to the original question.
"So, how do you want to do this Ed?"
"Simple Al. You're my brother and you managed to find me. There was just a small accident along the way." Ed smiled. "See? Simple and honest."
"And the accident? Exactly what sort of accident do you want to have plastered all over your public record?"
Ed shrugged. "You're making this bigger than it needs to be Al." She waved her hand around. "We don't have to specify what sort of accident. As far as I know I was just walking along when I suddenly woke up like this. I'll have no idea of what happened. I'll claim amnesia if I have to."
"You're not serious, Ed?" Al exclaimed.
"I am, Al. I woke up like this, I have no idea how it happened. If I can't remember then there are no tracks for them to follow. They won't look to you." Ed looked at Al, her eyes serious. "Al, this is not something we can hide like we did before. We have to start as we mean to go on. There's no turning back here."
"But Ed, it puts the onus of this on you. That's not fair when I was the one…"
"Stop it, Al." Ed sat up and turned on the seat to face him. "This is not like before. We can go forward, we have our futures back. I told you before Al, I will not have you blame yourself for this, it was an accident and that is what we will tell everyone."
Al looked down at his hands and twisted his fingers together. He knew better. It was his fault. His voice was hesitant as he lifted his head and met Ed's eyes.
"Ed… I made a mistake in the calculations. If I'd been more careful, you wouldn't be female and you'd have your arm…" Al paused. "I know you don't blame me, but it's still my fault."
Ed kept her eyes on Al. Here it was, the great Elric trick of being able to transmute guilt from thin air. Ed had been a master at it and Al was proving to be just as skilled. There were a couple of ways to deal with this. One was impossible because a) they were on a train and b) because Pinako had forbidden any sparring for the next two months and Ed was pretty sure that 'beating some sense into your idiot brother' would be classed as sparring. Which left the other way. Ed took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"And if our research proves this to be irreversible? What then, Al? Will you carry that guilt for the rest of your life?" Ed's words made Al draw back, his eyes wide.
"It won't be! It can't be!" Al shook his head from side to side in denial.
"Al, you have to face it. This could be permanent." Ed's voice was soft and without inflection. She leant forward, keeping her eyes on his as she muttered. "I didn't expect to have this conversation on a train."
"We shouldn't be talking like this anywhere. I am going to fix this, Sister." Al said in a determined manner. "Even if I have to withdraw my resignation."
"No." Ed straightened up and her voice became as determined as Al's. "You will do no such thing. We have two months and that should be enough to determine if we can reverse this or not. At the end of that time, I will decide based on the results. After all, I am the one this affects the most."
"But it's my fault. I am not going to allow you to suffer for what I did." Al clung to his guilt.
"Do I look like I'm suffering to you, Al? You gave me back my leg. Do you know how wonderful that is to me? I can go wherever I want Al, on these two perfect legs." Ed stared hard at Al. "Yes, giving me these legs is your fault, and I couldn't be happier about it."