1: The Recurring Dream

Pain.

All he felt at the moment was searing, agonizing pain.

Rain fell in icy sheets, turning the grassy ground surrounding him into a mushy, mud-like substance somewhere between a solid and a liquid. It penetrated his clothing and stung his skin where the icy droplets struck. Water ran into his eyes and matted his hair to his skin, obstructing his view. Through slits in his bangs he could see a forest, soaked by the rainfall. Somewhere in the distance, thunder ripped through the sky, followed by a brilliant and blinding flash of lightning. For one brief moment his surroundings were illuminated.

In the foliage before his he saw the figure of a girl. She had long brown hair that hung in wet clumps, lifted ever so slightly by the cold wind blowing steadily. The long sword held in her right hand glinted dangerously in the flash of light. He couldn't see her face, but felt that he knew her from somewhere. Where had he seen her? How did he know her?

He looked down at his hands, and at the small object clasped between them. Ever so slowly, they were coming back into view. Why was he fading away like mist on a hot day? What was causing that?

He knew what the answers were, he just couldn't say them. Something large shifted its weight next to him. He saw the glint of metal and knew instantly who was beside him. The girl stepped forward, aiming her sword at them.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "What are you doing with my little brother? Are you the reason he's been missing for a year?"

He couldn't speak. His throat tightened up and he couldn't get the words out as they formed in his head. His hand tightened on the object in his hand, the metal rings warm against his skin. He could hear, just barely, the sound of falling sand coming to a halt. He glanced down to see an elaborate hourglass seeming to glow in the light from another flash of lightning, the pale purple sand settling in the bottom of the shaped glass container.

He swallowed hard and finally started to speak.

"I..."

Alphonse sighed heavily and opened his eyes. He rubbed an arm across his face and squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight streaming through the curtains covering the window next to the bed. He heard sounds coming from the kitchen of the apartment, and a glance at the clock on the wall told him it was nearly eight. It wasn't surprising that he had slept later than usual, since he normally woke up around six. It had been a very long day at work. A year and a half had passed since the inter-dimensional war (known to many as The War of Deception), but there was still a lot of cleaning up to do. He must've been very tired, because he still wore his military uniform. He peeled off his blue jacket and tossed it aside. The job he had as a state alchemist might not be the most exciting nowadays, but the pay was good, so he put up with it when it gave him boring assignments. He was glad he had the day off.

Another sigh escaped his lips as he hauled himself out of bed and trudged to the kitchen, where the rest of his family was.

"Morning, Dad," Ai greeted him, looking up from the spoonful of food she was trying to feed Santi. "How'd you sleep?"

"Well enough, I suppose," he replied, ruffling her curled hair, the same shade of brown as her mother's (now that the red color had been removed) sort of 'brownie crust in the afternoon sunlight' as he had once been told. Santi cooed and clapped her hands together happily. "She's looking better."

"Yeah, especially after that time she got sick. She's growing up pretty quickly," Ai nodded, her curls bouncing from the motion.

"Where's number three?" he asked, taking an empty seat at the table.

"Mom's giving her a bath," Ai replied, her brow wrinkling as she returned to the task at hand. "This feels so strange. I'm so used to her being a teenager, and now I have to feed her like she's a baby."

"Well, she is a baby. It's only natural. Morning sweetie," Aislinn said, entering the room and swiftly kissing Alphonse. "Besides, we couldn't just leave her there in that ruined world."

"I give up," Ai grumbled, slouching in her chair. "She just won't eat."

"I'll feed her later. You better get going or you'll be late for school," Aislinn smiled.

"Fine..." she huffed, scooting off the chair and taking her messenger bag with her. "I'll see you later, then."

"Your brother called this morning," Aislinn said, handing the baby in her arms to Alphonse.

"What'd he say, and why didn't you wake me up?" he asked.

"You were out cold. Ai tried for fifteen minutes but nothing could rouse you. He said that she had another memory lapse," she replied, handing him a cup of coffee fixed to his liking and taking the baby back.

"That's the third time this month. They're getting closer together," he mused into the mug as steam billowed into his face.

"But they don't last very long, which is a good thing. Still, I'm kinda surprised she's lasted this long. When I was told that the illness was fatal, I honestly didn't expect her to last a year," Aislinn mumbled. "But Christin's tough and I know she won't go out without a fight."

"One of her many good points," he agreed. "She's come a long way since I first met her."

"Really? What was she like?" Aislinn inquired eagerly, joining him at the table. She had met her twin sister (whom she had believed to be dead for most of her life) for the first time a little over ten years ago and was eager to learn something new abut her.

"Kinda snobby and put off... maybe even bitchy? She was nice to me, but I was nice to her to begin with so what goes around comes around. She hardly ever talked and cut herself quite a bit. She had this unapproachable aura sort of thing... like you couldn't get close to her or get to know her," he replied, leaning his face against his hand.

"But you did," she pointed out.

"I helped a little bit. It was mostly Brother's doing, though. They used to fight a lot, over the stupidest things, but it was during those fights you could see who she really was. And Brother always had a grin on his face after they had separated after a fight, like he was trying not to laugh or something," he chuckled. "It was entertaining to watch them... still is, actually... because they're practically mirror images of one another as far as their personalities go."

"I'm going to put Mirian down for her nap," she stated. "Can you take care of Santi while I do that?"

"Who do you think you're talking to?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Soulbound Alchemist," she sneered playfully.

"Fullmetal and Soulbound... they really know how to pick intimidating names, don't they?" he chuckled dryly.

"I thought Ed was retired," she said from down the hall.

"He is, but he's subject to recall if the need arises. Like if another war breaks out, he'll have to be reinstated and assume his title once again," he replied.

"Don't jinx us. I've had enough fighting for one lifetime," she grumbled, dragging a hand through her hair.

"You're not the only one," he chuckled dryly, faintly recalling all the major events of his recent life. It didn't amount to much, really, just a series of wars and battles brought about because people had a strange obsession with revenge.

"Something the matter?" she asked gently.

"I had the dream again," he finally replied, looking at the floor though he had no reason to.

"Again? That makes it every night for a month now. I seriously think it means something," Aislinn huffed.

"That's what I'm starting to think. It's the same thing, over and over again. I'm sitting there, in a forest, and it's raining. There's a girl standing in front of me, asking who I am. She looks like you... no, she is you, and at the same time she isn't. She's like a familiar stranger," he replied.

"You've said that already. Every time you tell me what's happening, mind you - it's the same thing, you mention this 'familiar stranger' person. Maybe I'm not the best person to ask about this," she mused, biting her lip thoughtfully.

"You think I should call?" he asked warily.

"I think you better. Apparently, Ed's having the same dream."

"Hello?" Edward asked, picking up the receiver.

"Hey, is Christin there?" Alphonse's voice asked.

"No, she and Toby took the twins over to Winry's a few minutes ago. Something about a checkup," he replied, holding the receiver against his head with his shoulder.

"You weren't paying attention when she told you," Alphonse sneered.

"It was early. I had just woken up and was still half-asleep," Edward replied tartly. He bent down on his knees and fixed the collar of the golden retriever.

"Do you know when she'll be back?" Alphonse asked.

"Not sure. Don't you have the number for her cell phone?" Edward replied, ruffling the dog's fur affectionately. "Well, it's her day off, so she shouldn't be too long. Do you want me to tell her you called?"

"No... I'll try again later," Alphonse mumbled.

"Alright, spill. What's going on?" the blond demanded.

"The dream, again."

"Oh, you too, eh? Dreams are just a figment of our imaginations," Edward chuckled.

"Science and logic can't explain everything, Brother. This is bigger than something I've imagined, and I know damn well you feel the same way even if you won't admit it," Alphonse retorted.

"I can't get anything past you. You're always so damn perceptive... but you're one of a few people who know my heart," Edward smiled.

"Ugh, you've been reading girl's comics again," Alphonse groaned. "You've gotten so sentimental since we left Germany. Really, it isn't like you."

"I just wasn't able to express my romantic side until she showed up and, on a more personal note, an incestuous relationship with one's brother isn't something people generally approve of. You're a wonderful person, Al, but I just don't love you that way."

"Give me that," Edward snapped.

"No, you said he wanted to talk to me!" Christin snickered.

"I thought that might be you," Alphonse said, rolling his eyes. "Your impersonation needs a little work."

"Really? Man and I finally thought I had it down," she sighed.

"Your voice is too feminine to mimic mine," Edward sneered.

"Buzz off, buster. Go play with the dog or something," she hissed. "So, what'd you want to talk about, bro?"

"Aislinn said you'd know more about the recurring dream than we do," Alphonse replied. "After all, magic is your specialty and alchemy isn't doing a very good job of explaining it."

"When the hell did it become magic?" she asked, referring to the strange power she had ever since she arrived in that alternate dimension all those years ago.

"Back in Xenotime, you called it 'magicy magical magic', remember?" Edward said from down the hall. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him.

"I've always thought of you as a 'magic' sort of person, not an 'alchemy' sort. It's just the way you appear to me... and to others, I'm sure," Alphonse chuckled.

"Magic, huh?" she repeated. "I suppose that makes a bit of sense. I'll see what I can do and call you back when I reach some sort of conclusion, okay?"

"Thanks," he sighed in relief and hung up.

"Well, that wasn't the weirdest phone call I've had," she mumbled. "So both you and Al are having similar dreams..."

"Didn't we say it was the same dream?" Edward asked.

"Well, yes, sort of. It's the same situation, but you're seeing it from your perspective, not Al's and vice versa. Every night for a solid month now, and at least a year of scattered incidents. I thought it was just some weird emergence of a repressed childhood memory... maybe what you really think of your training on Yock Island?" she mumbled, biting her lip thoughtfully.

"There weren't any other people on the island when we were there, and definitely not any girls that look like you and your sister. Not even when we went back..." he replied.

"I said what you really think, not what really happened," she rolled her eyes. "Mmm... maybe it's some weird fantasy you've kept secret from me?"

"As if!" he snorted.

"Hey, I'm just trying to cover all the possible possibilities. I wonder what else it could be... maybe a vision from a past life? I know you think that stuff is just a bunch of BS but it has to be considered. Oh! Maybe it was your identical's memory! Remember, when you were sent through the Gate and landed in London in the other Ed's body? Maybe you took one of his memories or dreams or fantasies or something when you came back," she said, clapping her hands together.

"What is it with you and fantasies?" he asked dryly.

"I'm magical, now, so... if the shoe fits, when in Rome, all that jazz," she shrugged. "Funny, isn't it? It takes ten years to give a name to my power and we call it magic."

"Mama, tie my hair," a little girl's voice pleaded.

"Alright, braids or pigtails?" she smiled, picking up the child and setting her on the table. "And what's wrong with the way it's tied now?" she asked, removing the ribbons on the end of the girl's blond braids.

"Daddy does it not good. I want the frimp braids," she replied. "The pretty ones up here," she patted the top of her head.

"Oh, French braids. Sure, Dawn," Christin smiled.

"We're back!" Tobias announced.

"We noticed," Edward replied.

"Daddy, Daddy, make me something!" a second voice exclaimed eagerly. A blond boy burst into the room and launched himself at his father. Tobias entered shortly after, carrying their fat orange cat.

"I tried to stop him, honest, but once Dusk found that rock he wouldn't let it go," Tobias shrugged.

"Make me something!" Dusk pleaded.

"Alright, alright, calm down before you explode," Edward chuckled, taking the large rock the little boy held out.

"I wonder what it means..." Christin muttered to herself as she tied a ribbon around one of Dawn's braids.

"Mama?" the girl asked.

"What?"

"You done yet?" she huffed impatiently.

"Almost, stay still or it'll be all messy. I swear, you're almost as impatient as your father," Christin grumbled.

"I'm impatient?" Edward asked.

"You hadn't noticed?" his wife asked playfully.

"And you say she's oblivious to the world," Tobias sassed.

"Alright, you're done Jumpy. Go play or something," Christin said, helping Dawn off the table. "Honestly, I don't know what to make of it."

"Yeah, me neither. They have my killer good looks and your personality," Edward sighed.

"I meant the dream, dumbass, not the kids," she rolled her eyes.

"Mother, please watch your language. I don't want my almost-two-year-old siblings spouting curse words the way you do," Tobias said, sticking his head back in the room. "I'm gonna take Hermes for a walk."

"Have fun," Christin waved. "Now, back to the matter at hand. I've been having a recurring dream of my own, but it's kind of different. There's this waterfall... and I'm sitting at the edge. I look into the water and see my reflection, only I have cat ears and a tail. That's where it ends."

"How does that help me and Al?" Edward asked.

"You said there's a girl in your dream with cat ears and a tail, right? Maybe it's related to my dream. This is awfully strange, now that I think about it. I'm not sure if... well, maybe not... I'll think about it some more and see what I can come up with. I'll talk to Aislinn as well, see if she's had one. Ugh, all this thinking is making my head spin a bit," she mused, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"Well, that doesn't surprise me anymore. I'm used to all your quirks and flaws by now. I'd have to be, actually. You're always hanging around me like a virus so I've developed an immunity," he chuckled.

"A virus, really? That's what you compare me to?" she demanded, trying to hide a smirk.

"Sort of. It's more along the lines of..." he trailed off and looked at the floor.

She walked up to him and lifted his face, making him look at her. She hated seeing him look so sad and... heartbroken.

"It's more along the lines of my illness. It's alright, you can say it," she finished for him.

"I... I can't say it. I don't even like thinking about it. It's too sad," he whispered. "It's not fair. Why do you have to die? You haven't done anything wrong... so why should you have to die?" he asked, pulling her into a hug and hiding his face in her hair.

"Oh, Edward, please don't ask me that. You know as well as I do that I've escaped death too often. Sooner or later I would've died anyway, we all will one day, so please... don't ask me that," she blubbered, hugging him back.

"Excuse me! Is the Fullmetal Alchemist home?" a child's voice rang sharply.

"Alright, compose yourself, girl," Christin muttered to herself, slapping her cheeks.

"What the... who're you?" Edward asked, peering down at the small, raven-haired boy standing at the front door.

"My name is Hao! I need your help!" the boy announced, bowing deeply.

The two shared a confused look before returning their attention to the child. What was this child doing here, and why did he request the help of the Fullmetal Alchemist? But those questions were better to be asked of the child.

"I suppose we can see what's up," Edward sighed.

Area 51 1/2 12-21-10: guess who's back, back again. AM's back, tell your friends. That's right, book 3 is finally underway! I've wanted to write this book... ever since I got the idea for it. And I thought of a good plot-thing to keep in touch with characters besides the Elric brothers. Thank you, Ceres! But the first few chapters are always the hardest, because they set the pace for the whole story and introduce you to what's going on. I hope I wrote well...

I'll try to keep these things under four paragraphs (or half a page, at least) for this book, because they've been pretty long before. I was originally planning to make one big author's note at the end (as a separate chapter like in a series I've been reading) but that would've been to difficult for me. I need to talk to you all! Just think of these like the sidebars you see in shojo manga (I don't know how many of you read those, but I do, so...)

No particular theme song for this chapter, but maybe something kinda uppity? Like... an instrumental piece? Think kind of the BGM music for anime and video games smushed together or something like that... I think... someone compose an original soundtrack for me!

Ah, the twins... I better talk about them before I forget. When I first created my OC for FMA (Vida Voce, the Voice Alchemist) she and Ed had twins, a boy named Dusk and a girl named Dawn. I loved them so much that I put them in here. Originally they were fraternal twins, but I made them dentical just for the hell of it. Dusk is younger than Dawn, but don't ask me by how much cuz I didn't bother working out that detail. Let's just say two and a half minutes, okay? Happy holidays everyone!

Until chapter 2...