By ShadowYoukai87

Disclaimer: To gain, something of equal value must be lost. Since I haven't anything valued high enough to own Full Metal Alchemist, I can't own it! I just borrow it sometimes.

Chapter 1

"Brother, are you sure this is the way to Arka?"

The blond boy ahead of him looked out to the horizon on top of the artificial boulder nearly ten feet high so he could see over the trees. Even with his back to his younger brother, Alphonse Elric could easily enough tell what was going through his older brother's mind.

"I think we're lost, Al."

Somehow, the fact he admitted it surprised him more than the fact that they were lost.

"So, now what?"

The elder Elric looked on for another few moments before replying. "I think I can see a town not too far from here. We should be able to make it by nightfall." With that, he clapped his hands and placed them on the boulder. A short while later, the rock had returned to its old size and shaped and the blond teen was once more shorter than the suit of armor that housed his brother. "Think you can make it that far?"

Al glanced up at the sky and frowned as best he could. "As long as those rain clouds hold off, we should be fine."

The older boy nodded and they began their descent down the rocky hill, mindful of their footing. If either of them so much as tripped, the results would be very unpleasant for both of them. The chances of finding a half decent mechanic out here were slim at best. They had barely reached the base of the hill when they heard a scream followed by shouts and what sounded like gunfire. They froze, listening for a few moments, trying to judge where the sounds were coming from and where they were going. The sound of metal hitting his chest made them both blink as a girl ran out from the woods, head looking behind her, but terror clear on her face. She tripped on a stone jutting out from the ground and fell right onto the elder brother.

"Hey, are you okay?"

She looked up at him, shaking as she moved back from him, her eyes large. Al was surprised to see that one was green and the other was blue. There was the sound of another shot and the girl looked back as the forms of men became visible through the woods.

"They're closer than I thought," she whispered to herself before making a move to run, hissing with pain and pulling up her skirt enough to see her ankle was bleeding, likely from the stone when she tripped.

"They're chasing you?"

She turned to the blond boy, as if seeing him for the first time, her eyes traveling slowly to Al and back. She nodded. "Please, you have to help me. I've done nothing wrong!"

There was another shot, this time landing on the ground a few feet back. "Well, you sure made them mad somehow."

"There she is! There's the witch!"

She turned to them, eyes large and pleading. "Please, you have to believe me, I'm not a witch! I never hurt anyone! Please!"

"Brother…"

He nodded. "Let me talk to them."

"Oh thank you! Thank you!" She smiled in relief as Al moved to stand between the girl and her pursuers.

"So, you really think she's not a witch?"

"There's no such thing as witches. It's against the laws of science." Standing next to his brother, the youth looked out at the group of men as they entered the clearing, guns in hand along with clubs and stones.

"Who the hell are you?!" A man stepped up, holding an old shotgun aimed pointedly at them, apparently the leader of the group.

"Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing."

"Brother, now's not the time for that!"

"Relax Al, I've got this under control."

"That's what I'm afraid of…"

Ignoring him, the blond youth stepped up. "I want to know what this girl did to deserve 20 men chasing after her with guns."

"She's a witch! She can do unholy things!"

"Unholy?" The girl asked from behind them. "You call saving your son from that falling log 'unholy'?"

"You used magic!"

"I used Alchemy!"

"That wasn't Alchemy, and even if it was, Alchemy is as good as witchcraft!"

"Alchemy is a science." Everyone stopped to stare at the blond youth. His voice was quiet and dangerous. "It's nothing like witchcraft."

"The way this girl does it, it is. She takes right after her father. I wouldn't be surprised if she dabbled in Human Alchemy too!"

"How dare you compare me to that man?!"

"Will you both shut up!"

"Stand aside, pipsqueak. This is none of your business!"

Al sighed inwardly. Of all the insults he could have used…

"Who the hell are you calling so short and an ant could walk over?!" At the last word, fist met cheek and the man went flying about fifty feet right into a tree. While the youth was panting, recovering from the outburst of anger, the other men of the group prepared their weapons for an attack.

"Every time, Brother. Can't you ever control your anger?"

The next thing they knew, they were bring pelted with stones, on hitting Al squarely on his head knocking the armor off and into the girl's arm. There was a collective gasp as everyone looked at the nothing that had been under it. Not phased, he turned to the girl.

"Could I have that back please?"

She nodded, handing it to him and watching curiously as he replaced it on his shoulders. She smiled at him as the mob stepped back.

"They're all witches!'"

"We can't take them all!"

"She summoned others to help her!"

They went on for a few moments, suddenly terrified. the leader tried to regain order, but, it was too late. It was only another moment before they all turned tail and ran.

"Well, that was easy."

"Thank you very much for your help."

The blond teen grinned. "Don't mention it. I can't stand people who don't understand that Alchemy is a science."

She smiled. "I know just what you mean. Oh no, how rude of me, I haven't intorduced myself." She bowed a little. "My name is Sylvie Vine."

"I am Alphonse Elric, and this is my older brother, Edward Elric."

Edward grinned. "I bet you've heard of us. We're pretty famous."

She shook her head. "Sorry."

"Well, you must have at least have heard of the Full Metal Alchemist." added the blond youth, grin shaking.

She nodded. "That's you?" He nodded. "Wow! You're even taller than I thought you'd be!"

So, how was that? Please be kind, this is my first FMA fic. I hoped you enjoy, and please, R&R!