Chapter 1
They were stubborn and determined, brave and curious, and that lead them on an adventure worth telling for ages.
“Gah! You’re kidding me!” Ed fisted his wrist, holding his hand close to his chest as it throbbed. “I swear, this is the last time I’m fixing this damned roof.”
“Oh come on, brother. Are you telling me the one and only, Fullmetal Alchemist, is going to be defeated by a rooftop?” Al teased, placing a nail and lowering the hammer— but since his eyes were on Ed and not the roof… “Aah!” he to began to cradle his hand as well. “Oh no! This is the end, brother, we’re going to die! All because of this stupid roof!” Al, in dramatic pursuit, rolled over onto his back and let his hand fall to his side, “I worked too hard to die like this.”
“You know,” Ed picked up a small rock on the roof, throwing it at his brother’s stomach. “I don’t need your teasing, Al.”
Grinning, Al sat up, “But I did hurt my hand,” he tried to defend, but he saw that Ed had already put down the hammer and was walking towards the edge of the roof.
“Whatever, I’m getting some lunch,” he said before jumping off.
“Hold up!” Al put down the tools and quickly followed his brother.
Normally, he would use his alchemy to fix the roof, but since Ed couldn’t use his, Al figured he’d only make it fair and spend some quality time with his brother. Besides, Ed hadn’t brought up the fact that he wasn’t using his Alchemy, so he probably wasn’t bothered at all by his younger brother’s help.
It had been ten years. Ten years since Al got his body back, eight years since Ed “proposed" to Winry, and six years since Al proposed to Mei. Ed and Al had traveled almost everywhere, but when Ed and Winry discovered their pregnancy, the ex-Fullmetal Alchemist decided to stay home and not repeat their father’s mistake. Al enjoyed every minute of their lives now, and since Mei moved to Resembool, they all lived here. They all lived at home.
“Perfect timing,” they heard Winry’s voice as they walked into the house, “Lunch just finished.”
Ed let out a satisfied sigh, “Good thing too, I’m starving!” He walked into the kitchen, finding Winry and standing silently behind her with his arms around her waist. “Where are the kids?” he asked casually, expecting them to eagerly be waiting at the dinner table.
“Well,” Winry scoffed, “They wouldn’t your kids if they weren’t wondering off twenty-four seven. They’re outside somewhere,” she said. Looking to Al; she added, “Arthur’s with them too.”
“Well I hope they don’t get too dirty before Lunch,” Al said, sitting down at the table, “I can barely keep track of him without Mei around,” he laughed.
“Oh yeah,” Winry remembered, squirming out of her husband’s arms to get to the cupboard. “How’s Mei’s trip to Xing going?” she asked.
Al smiled, even though Winry’s back was to him. “She said it was going all right. I wish I could’ve come with her, but since she’s only there because of a simple meeting, I figured I’d stay here with Arthur.”
Reaching on her tips toes, Winry tired desperately to get to the bowls. She suddenly regretted having Ed do the dishes last night, he puts all the dishes as high as he can reach just to spite her.
Groaning, she turned to Ed who was “innocently” looking out the window. “Ed, just because you’re taller now, doesn’t mean you still have to flaunt that fact.”
He looked to her with mock-shock. “But Winry! I’d never do something like that to my sweet wife,” he said as he was about to sit down.
“Yeah, uh-huh…” She was tempted to smack him with the metal spoon in her hand (her wrench was on her work-desk) but she restrained herself. Instead, she grabbed the chair he was just about to sit into and used it as a stepping stool, causing Ed to fall.
“Ow,” he mumbled, standing up and giving her a look that she couldn’t see.
“Suits you right,” she said, grabbing the bowl and hopping down, sliding the chair back to him.
“And after I called you sweet.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.”
xXxXx
Outside, near a small river, there was a “secret” base. One where only the bestest of Alchemists could enter. Tall stocks and leaves covered the entrance while large rocks held it stiff.
“Almost done,” a small voice said, “Then we’ll activate it.”
“We won’t get in trouble for this, will we?” another asked.
“Oh, you’re such a baby. Come on, you’re the oldest here, Mathew!” a third spoke.
“Well I don’t want Mom to yell at us!” Mathew argued back, “Besides, Dad said we shouldn’t use Alchemy like this.”
“He’s right, Kate…” the first said, a hint of worry in his tone.
She nodded in agreement, “Not you too, Arthur! Remember, this is way different! This time we’ve got Alkahestry to back us up. Worst comes to worse, we get sent back here without a scratch,” she furrowed her blond brows in determination, “We promised each other we’d get Dad’s Alchemy back.”
Arthur nodded, “Yeah.”
“Okay,” Mathew nodded, putting his hands down. “Are you done with he circle, Arthur?”
“Just finished, you guys ready?” he asked. Even being the youngest of them, he was still extremely smart— but had a huge heart, so there was no way he wasn’t planning on backing out of his word.
“Ready,” Kate smiled, placing her hands down as well. She was in-between them, a year younger than her brother Mathew, and a year older than Arthur.
“Let’s go!” Mathew said, activating the circle with them all. He was the oldest, and he considered Arthur more of a brother than a cousin, so doing something this dangerous scared him; not for his own wellbeing, but their own. However, he did remembered when they all promised to get his father’s Alchemy back, and Mathew didn’t plan on chickening out.
Light enveloped the fort and within seconds… they were gone.
