"Brother, are you sure about this?" Alphonse Elric asked cautiously, eyeing his brother carefully. His voice was hollow and muffled at the same time due to his suit of armor. He carried a dummy over to the circle he brother was drawing. "It can't be that safe or sure if you're using a transmutation circle.

"Of course it's safe!" said Edward Elric, hiding his uneasiness from his younger brother. "We need to do this to get the Philosopher's Stone. It's the only way to get us back to normal." He stood up, brushing chalk dust from his metallic right hand. The circle was a mix of triangles and circles intertwined with numbers and other such symbols. "I'm just using the circle as a precaution. I've never tried to bring someone to me."

"Are you sure that Nicholas Flamel is real? He was just in a book you read- not to mention it was about magic." Al and his brother Ed were both Alchemists, Ed certified by the state. Alchemy was a science and very few studiers believed that magic was a real thing.

"But Al, he was also an alchemist. One of the only ones to ever create the Philosopher's Stone! We speak to him, we make it, and everything will be back to the way it was before."

"Except mother…" whimpered Al. Both stood in silence, remembering the day they tried to bring their mother back to life. It was a process that went terribly wrong, leaving both 'handicapped' in one form or another, scared for life in a way. Ed was the first to recover.

"We have to try and get on Al," he said. "So, let's go."

Both brothers bent down slowly, positioning their hands over the circle drawn before them. Touching it, light emanated from the chalk lines that signaled a reaction taking place. Ed inhaled sharply; surprised his alchemy was truly working for the better. They held on, a pulling at their navel gave them the feeling of actually moving. Ed knew they couldn't be moving- that would go above and beyond any amount of alchemy he ever knew.

"Al? Are you still with me?" he called above the wind that had now begun.

"Brother? I can hardly hear you!" the armor called back.

"Al, hold on! Just hol-" Ed had started to repeat himself, but something like a large weight set itself on him. The world around him went black and he felt nothing.

"Brother!" shouted Al, watching as his brother fall flat onto his chest, knees slipping from beneath him, his eyes closed and blonde hair flying back showing closed eyes. He tried to reach over to Ed, but something felt as though his hands were plastered to the floor. He just stayed down and kept tabs on Ed's form.

The wind stopped suddenly, dropping the duo onto a hard, cold stone floor. Al clanked as he hit, his brother thumping heavily as though dead weight.

"Brother," he said, crawling over to him. His armor scratched the ground, but Al hardly noticed. He lifted his head at the sound of a cough. Surrounding them were what appeared to be men having a meeting of sorts. In one chair sat what appeared to be a little boy, and standing before them was a man with light brown hair and a look of shock and horror on his face.

"Who are you? Why and how have you invaded my council?" asked a booming voice of authority. Al turned around to face a tall man, with long brown hair and wearing a long robe and headband. Upon closer inspection, more then half of the men around him were in the same type of attire.

"I'm Alphonse Elric. This is my older brother, Edward. Please," he said, voice pleading, "help my brother. I don't know what happened. He just passed out and I couldn't help him. Please."

The man considered, then nodded off to the side. Two others came forward and lifted his brother from the ground. His red cloak fell back and his sleeves pulled up, revealing his metal right arm. The leader, or so he seemed, raised his eyebrows in surprise, but said nothing. "I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell, Alphonse Elric."

"Where is Rivendell? In America?" he was lost, having never heard of such a place in his short eleven years of life.

"Middle Earth." Elrond moved off, and Al stood and followed. The rest of the council seemed lost for a moment, and then dispersed off, grumbling at the sudden change of events. "I will help your brother in what ways I can, but you must do something in return for me."

"Like what, sir?" Al was ready to do anything for Ed, as he had for him.

"You must go on a quest."

"A quest, sir?"

"You both must help Frodo destroy the Ring of Power." He turned back to face Al, no emotion shown on his armor. "You may remove that here, you are safe."

"I could, but there would be nothing to show you. It is the price I pay for walking were mortals are forbidden," Al responded, more hollow then usual. "What is this Ring of power?"

"I will explain after I have dealt with Edward." Elrond walked into a room, and let Al outside, alone and worried for Ed… yet again.

Edward Elric awoke slowly from a deep sleep. Beneath himself he could feel soft (almost silken) sheets on top of a feather mattress. He opened his eyes to reveal a bright sunlight filled room from what appeared to be medieval times. Stonewalls were covered in ivory vines, mixed together with cracks and dents. He looked at his arm and saw the automail was visible, as he was wearing no shirt. Looking under the covers he saw the only thing he did wear were his boxers. Sighing heavily, he fell back onto the pillows. The door across the room opened and Ed pulled himself back up again.

A man stepped into the room, tall with shoulder length hair, like his own locks but brown instead of blonde. He carried a tray holding a bowl filled with liquid and a pile of white washcloths.

"Oh, you are awake. Good, your brother has been asking for you," he said, coming over to sit beside him.

"Al? He's alright?" exclaimed Ed, sitting up, but the man pushed him back down.

"Lie still. He is fine, as far as we can tell." He dipped a cloth into the water and tried to dab Ed's forehead, but reaching out with his right arm, he held the man off.

"Who are you? Where am I? Where's my brother? I want to see him, now." He was faltering, but his metal arm held strong. The man was surprised, but did not resist him.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You are in Rivendell, Edward Elric, state alchemist."

"How do you-"

"Your brother was very worried and willing to share any helpful information. Alphonse is well, waiting just outside for you to wake."

Ed had questions burning his brain, but asked the easiest to understand first. "How long have I been out?"

"Two days, almost."

"Two days? How the hell did that happen?" He became upset that he was gone that long from this world, wherever it was.

"It seemed you were drained of energy when you came here. But it is nothing to worry yourself over, you are fine." Aragorn stood and walked to the door. "I will tell your brother he may come in?"

"Yes."

The man nodded, and exited the room, Al walking in almost instantly, being followed by what appeared to be a young boy with curly brown hair

"Hey Alphonse. You miss me?"

"Brother!"