Full metal pony

Twilight's Pov:

I didn’t think I’d ever get used to this.

Carrying Edward on my back had become a familiar routine over the past day, ever since his automail had broken. His leg was damaged pretty badly, and without the proper tools to fix it, I couldn’t let him walk around without support. So, until we could get the repairs done, I was more than happy to help him get around. He’d fought me on it at first, as expected, but eventually, he gave in with a resigned sigh.

As we made our way through Ponyville toward the library, Edward remained quiet, his usual stoic self. I could tell he hated this—hated being vulnerable, hated relying on me—but I wasn’t about to leave him struggling. Not after everything he’d gone through yesterday.

“There’s no need to feel embarrassed,” I said gently as I adjusted my wings to keep him balanced on my back. “I’m happy to help.”

Edward didn’t say anything, but I could feel the tension in his body as he tried to shift uncomfortably. It was clear he wasn’t used to being taken care of like this.

“I’ll fix your automail as soon as we can,” I continued, trying to keep the mood light. “In the meantime, you can just relax. I’ve got it covered.”

“Yeah... thanks,” Edward muttered, sounding more defeated than I’d ever heard him.

We reached the library sooner than I expected, and as I pushed open the door with my magic, I was greeted by the familiar scent of books and parchment. It was comforting—something I hoped would help put Edward at ease.

But before I could even get inside fully, I heard a voice I knew all too well.

“Twilight, darling!”

I froze. Oh no.

My mom, Twilight Velvet, trotted up with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up as soon as she saw me—well, as soon as she saw Edward on my back.

“Oh, sweetheart!” she cooed, rushing over. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing him along with you! Here, let me help.”

Before I could say anything, Mom was already by my side, her magic gently lifting Edward off my back and onto a nearby cushion. Edward blinked, clearly startled by the sudden attention, but he didn’t resist.

“Uh... hi?” he muttered, looking at me with wide eyes, as if silently asking for help.

I laughed nervously, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my mother was here. “Mom! What are you doing here so early?”

“Oh, darling, I just had to come see you—and your new friend, of course!” she said with a bright smile. “I heard all about what’s been going on, and I thought Edward could use some company while you take care of things. It’s not every day you meet a special pony like him.”

I glanced at Edward, who was now staring at the floor, his face a mix of confusion and discomfort. I had a feeling he wasn’t used to being doted on like this.

“Mom,” I began, trying to steer the conversation back to something normal. “Edward doesn’t need—”

“Nonsense!” Mom interrupted, waving her hoof dismissively. “He’s been through so much. Poor dear. The least I can do is keep him company while you get his leg fixed.”

I bit my lip, watching as my mom floated a basket of freshly baked treats over to Edward. “Here, darling, try some of my cinnamon rolls. They’ll make you feel right at home.”

Edward blinked, staring at the basket like it was some kind of alien object. “Uh... thanks?”

I could see the look in his eyes, the same look he’d had yesterday—caught off guard, vulnerable, unsure of how to handle the situation. And honestly, I couldn’t blame him. My mom could be a bit overwhelming when she wanted to be.

But before I could step in, she started doing something that made my heart sink into my hooves.

“Oh, and while you’re resting, I can tell you some stories about Twilight when she was your age! Did you know she was quite the adventurous little filly?”

My heart stopped. No. No, no, no.

Edward glanced at me, clearly interested now. “Really?” he asked, a small smirk forming on his lips.

Mom beamed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, absolutely! She was always getting into trouble with her magic. There was one time when she tried to summon a book from the top shelf and ended up knocking the entire bookshelf over on top of herself! Poor thing was stuck under a pile of books for hours.”

I groaned, feeling the heat rise to my face as Edward chuckled under his breath. “Mom, you don’t have to—”

“And then there was the time she accidentally turned our entire kitchen into a giant ball of bubblegum,” Mom continued, completely ignoring me. “We couldn’t get the sticky mess out for weeks!”

Edward’s smirk grew, and I could see the amusement in his eyes. “That sounds about right.”

I buried my face in my hooves, wishing I could disappear. Why, of all days, did my mom have to do this now?

“And you should’ve seen her when she first got her cutie mark,” Mom added with a laugh. “She was so excited that she ran all over the house, knocking over every vase we owned. It was adorable!”

“Mom!” I cried, my face now fully red as I tried to stop her. “That’s enough! Edward doesn’t need to hear all of this!”

Edward, on the other hoof, was enjoying every second of it. “No, no, please, continue,” he said with a grin. “This is great.”

Before Mom could launch into another embarrassing story, the door to the library opened again, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Twilight, are you here?”

I turned around, my eyes widening as Princess Celestia herself stepped into the library. Oh no. Not her, too.

“Princess!” I stammered, rushing over to greet her. “What are you doing here?”

Celestia smiled warmly, her regal presence filling the room. “I heard about your new guest, Twilight, and I wanted to meet him myself. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” Mom said cheerfully, trotting over to Celestia. “We were just getting acquainted! I’ve been telling Edward all about Twilight’s adventures as a filly.”

I winced, my face still burning with embarrassment. “Yes... she has.”

Edward was still smirking, clearly loving every second of my discomfort. “It’s been... informative,” he said, glancing at me with a teasing look.

I groaned again, burying my face in my hooves. This couldn’t get any worse.

But it did.

As soon as Celestia saw Edward’s broken automail, she stepped closer, her expression softening. “It looks like your leg has been damaged. I can help with repairs if you’d like.”

Edward blinked, surprised by the offer. “Uh... I think I’ve got it under control.”

“Nonsense!” Mom cut in, stepping up beside Celestia. “Princess Celestia is offering her help, Edward! You should take it.”

Celestia nodded. “I can bring in some of Canterlot’s finest craftsmen to assist you. We can have your automail fixed in no time.”

I watched as Edward’s face went from confused to overwhelmed. “I... really don’t need all this.”

But neither Mom nor Celestia seemed to hear him. They were both too busy discussing how to best help Edward, practically hovering over him with their offers of assistance.

I stood there in stunned silence, watching as my mother and my mentor both vied for Edward’s attention, each trying to outdo the other in their efforts to take care of him. Edward, meanwhile, looked like he was ready to bolt.

“I... I’m fine,” he muttered, his eye twitching as they continued to fuss over him.

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Even Edward Elric couldn’t survive the combined forces of my mom and Princess Celestia.
Edward’s smirk grew, and I could see the amusement in his eyes. “That sounds about right.”

I buried my face in my hooves, wishing I could disappear. Why, of all days, did my mom have to do this now?

“And you should’ve seen her when she first got her cutie mark,” Mom added with a laugh. “She was so excited that she ran all over the house, knocking over every vase we owned. It was adorable!”

“Mom!” I cried, my face now fully red as I tried to stop her. “That’s enough! Edward doesn’t need to hear all of this!”

Edward, on the other hoof, was enjoying every second of it. “No, no, please, continue,” he said with a grin. “This is great.”

Before Mom could launch into another embarrassing story, the door to the library opened again, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Twilight, are you here?”

I turned around, my eyes widening as Princess Celestia herself stepped into the library. Oh no. Not her, too.

“Princess!” I stammered, rushing over to greet her. “What are you doing here?”

Celestia smiled warmly, her regal presence filling the room. “I heard about your new guest, Twilight, and I wanted to meet him myself. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” Mom said cheerfully, trotting over to Celestia. “We were just getting acquainted! I’ve been telling Edward all about Twilight’s adventures as a filly.”

I winced, my face still burning with embarrassment. “Yes... she has.”

Edward was still smirking, clearly loving every second of my discomfort. “It’s been... informative,” he said, glancing at me with a teasing look.

I groaned again, burying my face in my hooves. This couldn’t get any worse.

But it did.

As soon as Celestia saw Edward’s broken automail, she stepped closer, her expression softening. “It looks like your leg has been damaged. I can help with repairs if you’d like.”

Edward blinked, surprised by the offer. “Uh... I think I’ve got it under control.”

“Nonsense!” Mom cut in, stepping up beside Celestia. “Princess Celestia is offering her help, Edward! You should take it.”

Celestia nodded. “I can bring in some of Canterlot’s finest craftsmen to assist you. We can have your automail fixed in no time.”

I watched as Edward’s face went from confused to overwhelmed. “I... really don’t need all this.”

But neither Mom nor Celestia seemed to hear him. They were both too busy discussing how to best help Edward, practically hovering over him with their offers of assistance.

I stood there in stunned silence, watching as my mother and my mentor both vied for Edward’s attention, each trying to outdo the other in their efforts to take care of him. Edward, meanwhile, looked like he was ready to bolt.

“I... I’m fine,” he muttered, his eye twitching as they continued to fuss over him.

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. Even Edward Elric couldn’t survive the combined forces of my mom and Princess Celestia.

Edward’s Pov:

I was still trying to figure out how I’d gotten caught between the two most powerful ponies I’d ever met. One minute I was quietly working on fixing my automail, and the next thing I knew, Twilight’s mom and Princess Celestia were hovering over me, offering advice, food, and practically smothering me with attention.

The worst part was that I couldn’t even walk away—not with my automail leg broken. So, I was stuck, surrounded by two “Gramponies” trying to outdo each other in helping me.

And it wasn’t like Twilight could save me this time—she was too busy hiding in the corner, face bright red from embarrassment as her mom continued to tell stories about her fillyhood. I shot her a glance, hoping she’d step in and do something, but she just winced and mouthed “sorry.”

Great. So, I was on my own.

“I think Edward would really benefit from meeting my sister, Luna,” Celestia said suddenly, her voice calm but purposeful. “She has a special way of understanding those who are going through difficult transitions.”

Twilight Velvet blinked, clearly caught off guard by Celestia’s suggestion. “Oh! Well, I suppose Princess Luna could be helpful, but—”

Celestia’s eyes twinkled, and she gave a soft smile. “Luna’s dream-walking abilities might offer Edward a kind of comfort that not even we can provide. She can reach across worlds, you know.”

Twilight Velvet’s ears perked up, and I could see the subtle shift in her expression. This was no longer just a visit—it was now a contest. “Oh, of course, Princess Celestia. But don’t you think Edward would benefit more from a pony who’s been through similar emotional struggles? Somepony who understands the importance of family?”

The air grew thick with tension as Celestia and Twilight Velvet both turned their attention to me, each one trying to subtly outdo the other. I groaned internally. How did I end up in the middle of this?

Before either of them could make things worse, Twilight Sparkle, finally snapping out of her embarrassment, rushed forward. “Well! This has been... lovely,” she said quickly, grabbing me with her magic and gently placing me back on her back. “But we should really get going. Edward needs some rest, and we’ve got a lot to do today!”

I wasn’t going to argue with that. As soon as Twilight lifted me onto her back, I slumped in relief. Anything to get out of there.

“Thank you for everything, Princess Celestia, Mom,” Twilight said hastily as she made her way toward the door, moving faster than I’d ever seen her. “We’ll definitely visit Luna soon!”

“Oh, I’m sure Luna would love to meet him!” Celestia called after us, her voice light but with that unmistakable competitive edge.

“Yes, and make sure Edward gets plenty of rest,” Twilight Velvet added, her voice just as competitive. “You know how fragile ponies can be after such a stressful time!”

Twilight practically bolted out of the library, and I let out a small sigh of relief once we were back on the street.

“Finally,” I muttered, my head resting against her mane. “I thought I was going to suffocate in there.”

Twilight laughed nervously, her pace slowing a bit now that we were out of earshot. “Yeah, sorry about that. I don’t know what’s gotten into them today.”

As we walked through Ponyville, I started to relax. The sun was shining, and the air was cool—at least things were calmer out here.

But, of course, things didn’t stay calm for long.

“Oh, look!” A voice from nearby suddenly caught my attention, and I glanced over to see a random pony standing at a market stall, waving at us with a big grin on her face. “It’s so nice to see Princess Twilight and her little one out for a walk!”

I blinked, my brain stalling for a second. “Wait... what?”

Twilight froze, her eyes widening as she turned toward the pony. “Oh, no, no, no, he’s not my—”

But the pony kept going, completely oblivious to Twilight’s protest. “It’s so cute! You’re such a good mom, Princess Twilight!”

Twilight’s face turned red again, but this time, she didn’t try to argue. Instead, she just gave an awkward laugh and waved back, her mind clearly racing. “Haha... yeah, thanks!”

I groaned, burying my face in her mane. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Once we were far enough away, Twilight let out a deep breath, shaking her head. “I swear, some ponies will believe anything.”

“Why didn’t you correct her?” I muttered, still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

Twilight was quiet for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. “Actually... it’s not the worst idea.”

I blinked. “What?”

She kept walking, her voice thoughtful. “Think about it. If ponies thought you were under my care as, well... my ‘child,’ you’d be treated with respect, maybe even given special treatment if we ever had to travel for one of my missions. I’m a princess, after all.”

I stared at her, my mind spinning. “You’re seriously thinking about this?”

Twilight shrugged, looking at me over her shoulder. “It could make things easier for you while you’re stuck here. Being treated like royalty has its perks, you know.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but then closed it again. She had a point. If pretending I was some kind of royal kid meant I didn’t have to deal with any more awkward situations—or at least fewer of them—then maybe it wasn’t the worst idea.

“I’ll think about it,” I muttered.

Twilight smiled, her pace picking up again. “Good. And who knows? Maybe Princess Luna will have some advice when we meet her.”

We reached Canterlot that evening. Twilight had arranged for us to meet Princess Luna at her castle, and as much as I hated being dragged into yet another royal event, I was curious about Luna. From what Celestia had said, she had the ability to travel across worlds in her dreams. That... caught my attention.

When we finally entered the dark, majestic throne room, the towering figure of Princess Luna awaited us. Her starry mane billowed behind her like a curtain of the night sky, and her deep blue eyes held a calm, knowing look.

“Princess Twilight,” Luna said warmly, her voice echoing through the room. “And you must be Edward Elric.”

I nodded stiffly, unsure of how to approach this. “Yeah, that’s me.”

Luna stepped down from her throne, her gaze never leaving mine. “It is a great honor to meet you, Edward. I have... seen you before, in your world.”

I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. “What?”

Luna smiled gently, her eyes softening. “My dream-walking abilities allow me to visit many places—many worlds. Amestris is one of them. I have visited it several times before, though I doubt you were aware of my presence.”

My heart skipped a beat. She knew about Amestris? She’d... visited it?

“What do you know about my world?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Luna’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. “I know of the pain and suffering that has plagued your land. I have seen the wars, the destruction, and the great toll it has taken on you and your people.”

I clenched my jaw, memories flashing through my mind. Amestris was no stranger to suffering.

Luna stepped closer, her voice softening. “I also know that you carry a great burden, Edward. One that weighs heavily on your heart.”

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the emotions rising in my chest. “And?”

Luna’s eyes seemed to pierce right through me, as if she could see everything I was hiding. “I want you to know that you are not alone. Not here, and not in your world. You have allies, Edward. Even in the darkest of times, there are those who will stand by your side.”

I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to argue, to tell her she didn’t understand. But another part of me—the part that had been so broken just yesterday—wanted to believe her.

“I... thanks,” I muttered, unsure of what else to say.

Luna nodded, her expression gentle. “You are welcome.”

As the conversation shifted to other topics, I found myself glancing at Luna, wondering just how much she knew. If she’d visited Amestris, if she really understood what I’d been through... maybe there was more to her than I’d thought.

Maybe, just maybe, this world wasn’t as far from home as I’d feared.

Luna’s words lingered in my mind long after she spoke them. Her calm, soothing presence did nothing to quiet the storm of questions swirling inside me. How much did she know? How had she seen my world? What else was she not telling me?

I shifted uneasily, trying to make sense of it all. “What do you mean you’ve seen Amestris? You’ve been there?”

Luna nodded, her expression somber. “Yes. Through dreams, I am able to travel between worlds, and Amestris is one I have visited many times.”

That sent a chill down my spine. The idea of someone watching my world, visiting it without me knowing, left me feeling... unsettled. But at the same time, the way she spoke wasn’t threatening. There was no malice in her words—just understanding.

I clenched my jaw, feeling the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “So you know what’s happening there? Right now?”

Luna’s eyes softened, and for the first time, I noticed a hint of sadness in her expression. “Yes, Edward. I know.”

Something in her voice made my chest tighten. There was something more—something she wasn’t saying. “What... what’s going on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Luna hesitated for a moment, then her horn glowed with a soft, ethereal light. “I can show you, if you wish. But know this—what you see may be painful.”

Painful? My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn’t stop myself from stepping forward. “Show me.”

With a nod, Luna’s magic enveloped me, and the world around us began to shift. The walls of her castle faded away, replaced by a familiar darkness—a darkness that I hadn’t realized I’d missed until now. The skies of Amestris stretched out before me, and for a moment, I could almost feel the cold wind against my skin.

But this wasn’t the real Amestris. It was something else—something between worlds, a glimpse of what was happening while I was stuck in Equestria.

I saw my body first.

There, in a bed, in a room that looked too sterile, too quiet, was my body—my real body. I was lying there, motionless, pale, and frail. Tubes and wires connected me to machines I recognized from Amestrian hospitals, and everything about the scene made my stomach turn.

I swallowed hard, trying to fight the wave of nausea that hit me. Was this what had happened when I’d been pulled into Equestria? Was I still... still in that world, still alive but...

Just lying there.

“Why... why am I like that?” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips.

Luna’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper in the back of my mind. “When you were pulled into this world, your physical body remained behind, suspended between life and death.”

I blinked, trying to process what she was saying. Suspended? Life and death? How...?

But before I could ask anything else, the scene in front of me shifted again. A door creaked open, and I saw him.

Alphonse.

He walked in slowly, his head hanging low, and my heart shattered at the sight of him. His face—his real face, not the metal suit of armor I had grown so used to—was streaked with tears, and his eyes were filled with a kind of pain I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Brother...” Al whispered, his voice breaking. “Please... please wake up.”

I froze, my entire body going numb. Al. He was here. He was right there in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak.

I was just... watching.

“Brother,” Al continued, his voice trembling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t... I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought... I thought we could fix everything. I thought I could help. But I can’t... I can’t do this without you.”

My chest tightened, and the tears that had threatened to spill over earlier began to blur my vision. I tried to reach out—to say something, anything—but nothing happened. My hand passed through the air like I wasn’t even there. I was stuck, just watching my brother suffer.

And then... another voice.

“I’m sorry, Fullmetal.”

I turned sharply, my breath catching in my throat as I saw him. Roy Mustang. He stood at the doorway, his usual stoic expression gone. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

Roy walked forward slowly, his steps hesitant, as if he didn’t know what to say—what to do. He stopped beside Al, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“I failed you,” Roy said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “I promised I’d watch out for you... that I’d take care of you and Al. But I failed.”

My heart twisted painfully in my chest. I wanted to scream at him—tell him he hadn’t failed, that it wasn’t his fault. But no matter how much I wanted to speak, I couldn’t. My voice was trapped in my throat, locked behind the same invisible barrier that kept me from moving.

Al sobbed quietly beside Roy, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch my motionless body. “Please, brother. I need you. I can’t lose you too.”

Roy’s voice cracked, and for the first time since I’d known him, I saw something I thought I’d never see.

Tears.

“I can’t lose you, Fullmetal,” Roy said, his voice breaking. “Not you.”

He bowed his head, his shoulders shaking as he fought back the sobs that were threatening to overtake him. And in that moment, I realized something I hadn’t fully understood before.

They needed me.

Al needed me. Roy needed me. Everyone back in Amestris—they needed me to wake up, to come back.

But I couldn’t. I was trapped here, in this strange world, watching everything fall apart from the other side of a portal I couldn’t cross.

“I... I can’t...” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I can’t do anything.”

Luna’s presence was still beside me, her magic holding the vision in place. “You cannot cross the portal,” she said softly. “Your body is trapped in your world, and your soul is bound to this one.”

My fists clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. “So what do I do? I can’t just... sit here and watch them suffer!”

“There is a way,” Luna said, her voice calm but firm. “But it will take time. And you must be prepared for the journey ahead.”

I looked at her, my chest still tight with emotion. “What journey?”

“To reunite your soul with your body,” Luna explained. “You will need to unlock the power that binds you to this world. Only then can you return to Amestris.”

The power that binds me to this world? What was she talking about? Was it the same power that had brought me here in the first place?

“How?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

Luna met my gaze, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place—pity, maybe, or understanding. “The answers lie within you, Edward. You must find them for yourself.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know how to “unlock” anything. All I knew was that I needed to get back to my brother—to Roy, to Amestris. And I didn’t have time to waste.

But as I looked back at the vision—at Al’s tear-streaked face, at Roy’s silent grief—I realized something else.

I wasn’t ready.

Not yet.