Different Method of Pathfinding

alias alph { if $1 isalpha { return $calc($asc($1) - 96) } | if $1 isnum { return $chr($calc($1 + 96)) } }
alias a-path {
  ; $1 needs to be current position, and $2 needs to be target destination.
  var %a-curpos $1, %a-finalcount, %a-done

  if $1 && $2 && $1 != $2 {
    goto varsetting

    :varsetting
    ; number for the Letter Row for $1
    var %a-1 $alph($left(%a-curpos,1))

    ; number for the Letter Row for $2
    var %a-2 $alph($left($2,1))

    ; actual Number Row of $1
    var %a-3 $remove(%a-curpos,$left(%a-curpos,1))

    ; actual Number Row of $2
    var %a-4 $remove($2,$left($2,1))


    if %a-1 < %a-2 {
      var %a-direction-leftright right
      if %a-3 > %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown up }
      if %a-3 < %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown down }
      if %a-3 == %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown none }
    }
    if %a-1 > %a-2 {
      var %a-direction-leftright left
      if %a-3 > %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown up }
      if %a-3 < %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown down }
      if %a-3 == %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown none }
    }
    if %a-1 == %a-2 {
      var %a-direction-leftright none
      if %a-3 > %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown up }
      if %a-3 < %a-4 { var %a-direction-updown down }
    }

    ; Find sorrounding cells
    var %a-cell-above $+($left(%a-curpos,1),$calc($remove(%a-curpos,$left(%a-curpos,1)) - 1))
    var %a-cell-below $+($left(%a-curpos,1),$calc($remove(%a-curpos,$left(%a-curpos,1)) + 1))
    var %a-cell-left $alph($calc($alph($left(%a-curpos,1)) - 1))
    var %a-cell-right $alph($calc($alph($left(%a-curpos,1)) + 1))


    ; cell check - if not land or restricted (no obstacle)

    ; **** This is where I'm confused, how to determine which way to go ****

    if $EPirate.Cell.Restricted(%a-cell-above) == $false {
      if %a-direction-updown == up {
        ; Now the general direction is up and the cell above isnt restricted. I should move to this cell, but...
        ; what if the cell to the right is a shorter path and not restricted, and leftright direction variable is set to right,
        ; then which way should I go. Up or Right?

        ; how do I figure which way to go
        ; I may need to count the number of moves each way, but havent thought about this yet.
      }
    }

    ; put a 'goto varsetting' after I figure which is next cell to move to, to find next move.
    ; BUT set %a-curpos to the next cell before goto varsetting

  }

  ; Once completely done, unset variables
  :done
  unset %a-*
}