A/N: Okay, there is a bit of an explanation behind this story. I had written out most of the original story, but I decided I didn't like it very much. So, this was written, and I think I like it a lot better than before. I will try to update as much as possible, so enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Prolouge

It was going to be a great party, and Ed knew it. The Rockbells were hosting it, seeing as the Elric brothers normally stayed at their place when visiting Resembool. Just because he knew it was going to be great didn't mean he wasn't going to complain about the guest list, though.

Roy and his subordinates had been invited, as well as Gracia and Elicia Hughes, Paninya, Roze, Ling and his bodyguards, May Chang, Major Armstrong and his sister Olivier. Scheska, Denny Brosch and Maria Ross were also asked to attend, and, much to Ed's annoyance, so was Hohenheim.

"What is Colonel Bastard doing on the guest list, Winry?! And… oh, hell. Please tell me you didn't invite Ling… Winry, he'll eat you out of your house and home." Ed had grumbled as he read through the guest list the previous day. Winry had already invited two of the most aggravating people in the world to the small celebration party. The only person who could be more bothersome was… crap. She invited him! "WINRY!! What the heck did you invite Hohenheim for?!"

"Ed, you complain too much, and you're really loud. I can hear you from our bedroom. Besides, Dad isn't all that bad." Al's voice could barely be heard from the room above. Al, Ed's faithful little brother, his pat friend, his constant companion. Also the person this party was for.

The Next Day

Roy Mustang showed up at the door of the Rockbell's home feeling clueless. The party invitation had said only the date, time, and location of the party, and to bring a gift for Alphonse. He hesitantly knocked on the door, fully aware of the eyes of his military friends on his back (He, Hawkeye, Havoc, Breda, and Falman had decided to share a car). He was greeted by a broadly grinning Winry, a slightly annoyed yet pleased, Ed, and some random kid who looked absolutely overjoyed to see - wait. Who was that boy? He had the same golden eyes as Ed, the same grin, but his hair was darker, and shorter. Besides, Fullmetal was standing right there, so it wasn't him.

"Alphonse?" Roy barely whispered his name, but apparently the boy could read lips or something, because his grin widened and he practically tackled Roy with an ecstatic hug.

"You knew it was me!! You did! Brother thought you wouldn't but you did!" All of the military workers had no idea what was going on, but they were nothing if not curious, so they crowded around Mustang, looking over his shoulders and around him to see who the small hands crushing their commanding officer could possibly belong to.

"Alphonse?" Everyone questioned upon seeing the teenage boy, and after hearing his excited voice confirming their beliefs, everyone knew that Ed and Al had succeeded in restoring Al's body, and all of them gave their happy congratulations to the duo.

Next arrived Kain and his girlfriend, Scheska, followed shortly by Maria and Denny. Shortly after that were Alex and his sister, then Ling, Lanfan, and Fuu. May Chang came next that, running into Al's arms after she figured out who he was. Roze and Paninya came just before Elicia and Gracia Hughes, and finally, Von Hohenheim.

By the time the last few guests had arrived, most of the crowd had made camp in the living room and were chatting amongst themselves, or, in Alex's case, showing off their muscles and sparkling. All the guests stopped their conversations when Pinako pushed Ed rather forcefully towards the center of the room, demanding he told the guests why they had been gathered.

"Well, you guys, there's one reason we've invited you here, and that is to celebrate the return of Al's body. So come up here, Al, so we can give you a round of applause!" With this he pulled his younger brother up with him and listened to the applause, which was littered with cheers and tears of happiness. After the applause there was an awkward silence, with the occasional sniffle from Winry's general direction. Roy took this opportunity to point out something that he had noticed, as well as giving his own, more persona congratulations.

"I would like to say that I am incredibly proud of these boys, and that I know they have been through a lot of difficult things in order to get where they are today. Good job, you two. I would also like to ask the elder Elric a question. How does it feel to be an inch shorter than your younger brother?

It took a while to get Ed calmed down, and even longer for Roy, Breda, Havoc, Paninya, and Ling to stop snickering at the older Elric's outburst, which had been increased when Hohenheim, trying to help in the calming of his son, had told him that he, too, was short as a child. That had definately not helped.

"Who are you calling so incredibly short and childish that he could be mistaken for a toddler, you stinking giant!!? I'm not short, you guys are all just abnormally tall!!" Even Winry had given a little giggle at that, and Ed was still ranting about how nobody respected him anymore when there was a sharp knock at the door. Pinako had gone to answer it, wondering if there was someone who hadn't arrived at the party yet. She was surprised to see the man who normally delivered letters and messages around the village.

"I was told Roy Mustang could be found here? I have an urgent message for him from headquarters," he said over the yelling and laughter in the background. Pinako gave a loud call from the door, which had the colonel darting quickly to the sound of the older woman's voice. "Roy Mustang? This is for you." The man handed the short message to the alchemist, who read it over quickly, growling slightly as his face paled. This was the last thing anyone needed right now; everyone had finally found happiness, only for it to be destroyed by two sentences.

"What is it?" Pinako wanted to know. Roy read the aloud with an angry, yet shaky voice.

"Colonel Mustang: You and all soldiers under your command are being sent to war. You have one week to prepare."

A/N: Wheee, I got to write a short rant! Sorry about the cliffhanger, I'll try to upload as soon as possible, provided writer's block doesn't strike like last time. See you then!