This is an old story that I edited a bit, so I hope it's okay. Please Review kindly at the end to see if I should continue. I do have a lot written, but it's not yet complete, so tell me what you think!

IMPORTAN A/N: I took creative freedoms

Al has his body, but the homunculi haven't been defeated

Al is 15, Ed is 16

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, but I own Isabel. And Ryo.

Twin heads of golden hair shined in the warm spring sunshine as the two boys walked on the fringe of a forest.

"Hey Al?" the shorter of the two began.

"Hmm?" Al grunted.

"Do you see that?"

Al squinted, peering almost directly into the sun that was sinking rapidly toward the horizon as if it had a meeting it was about to be late to. "Is that... a...?" Al started.

"It's a fight!" Ed, the shorter boy, shouted almost... gleefully? "Come on! Let's check it out!" He sprinted as fast as he could towards the rather heated brawl about five hundred yards away, Al following close behind.

As they neared the fight, they could see it was between four rather large, well-muscled men and a lithe girl of average height. She ducked under the punch of what appeared to be the leader, laughing slightly maniacally.

"Is that really the best you've got?" She taunted. "I expected more of the infamous Central Killers." She laughed again before something in her eyes hardened. Her maniac grin was still in place as she gleefully swept the leaders legs out from under him and kicked the side of his head so hard he fell unconscious, a bit of blood trickling from his mouth. She whirled around to face the other three, who glanced fearfully at each other before drawing guns and closing in on her.

"Crap," she hissed under her breath. "Guess the leader's not the strong one, just manipulative." She ran at the man on her left first, taking him down in a matter of seconds, skillfully using him as a shield from the other two. The last two left standing rushed at her at the same time, learning from their fallen comrades that trying to take her one at a time just wouldn't work. The first one grabbed her by the wrist and yanked it behind her back while her attention was focused on the other one. She bit back a scream of pain as something snapped. She struggled, but she couldn't move as the one she had been focusing on thrust his gun under her chin.

"Best behave girlie," the man snarled, his breath stinking of cigarettes and alcohol, his beard scratchy and unshaven. "We wouldn't wanna have an accident now, would we?"

The girl just growled at him.

"She ain't worth it." the other man said calmly. "Too feisty."

"Hmm, that's too bad. She's a good lookin' one too." The first said as he turned off the safety of his gun, his eyes roving over the girl's body sadly.

Green eyes widened and she squirmed, trying to free herself, whimpering slightly as her wrist was jostled.

"Hey!" her eyes flicked up at the shout, widening more as she saw a boy with a short dagger protruding from under his sleeve. "Leave her alone!" The big one holding her pulled her closer while the other advanced toward the boy.

Great, the girl thought sarcastically. I get to be the damsel in distress; I don't think so! Her captor's grip had slackened slightly at the arrival of the boy, so she sneakily shifted her weight a little and threw him over her head. Sadly, he pulled her with him, so she ended up landing on top of him. He released her hands to balance himself and she spun on her shoulder blades, kicking him twice in the face as she leaped to her feet, wincing again as she bumped her wrist. She turned to see how the other boy was doing, but apparently she hadn't knocked her opponent out with her kicks because she was being pushed roughly out of the way by a boy who looked similar to the other one, just taller. He had fallen with her, landing on top of her, pinning her injured wrist under her. Her eyes watered, but the boy just leaped off her and tackled the man, punching him until he was out cold. Apparently the other boy had beaten his opponent to a bloody pulp as well. Then they both turned on her.

She heaved her body into a deceptively relaxed fighting position, just in case the boys tried to take her with them. "Thanks," she mumbled. It wouldn't do to forget her manners now would it? "Who are you?" She asked in a commanding voice, deciding that although she would play polite, she would still be assertive.

"I'm Alphonse Elric," Al said lowly and calmly. "This is my brother, Edward."

"Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist?" The girl queried.

"That's right!" Ed said proudly.

"Hmm. The rumors must be just that; rumors, because you're not that short."

"WHAT!? WHO DID YOU JUST CALL SMALL ENOUGH TO DROWN IN A RAINDROP!?" Ed lunged at her knocking her backwards before Al could stop him. Swiftly, the girl used his momentum and flipped with Ed, straddling his chest, her right hand cradled against her own chest.

"You know, I didn't call you short," Ed struggled at the word, but the girl merely pinned his arms above his head, wincing as he struggled against her right one, and leaned down, whispering in his ear, "I said you weren't as small as the rumors said, Fullmetal. You should probably listen better so you aren't completely humiliated when someone else is stronger than you again." slid off of Ed's chest and stood warily as Al ran over and apologized profusely for his brother's behavior.

"I'm so sorry! Brother's just like that whenever someone calls him short! Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he? Oh no! You are hurt!"

The girl let out a strained laugh and said, "You worry like a mother hen Alphonse Elric. Calm down. It's not that bad. Thanks, by the way, for helping me out with those guys. They were a little tougher than I thought they'd be."

"No problem." Al replied, blushing slightly. "It was Brother who noticed. He's good at that sort of thing. Finding trouble I mean." Ed, who had just gotten up trotted over looking proud and humiliated at the same time.

"What's your name anyway?" Ed asked, cutting Alphonse off before he continued rambling. "And where'd you learn to fight so well?"

"My name it Isabel and easy, I was taught." Isabel stated, glaring slightly at Ed's rude behavior as she thoughtlessly stuck her right hand out to shake Ed's. She inhaled sharply as their hands met and pain lanced up her wrist.

"Brother stop! You're hurting her! Do you need to see a doctor or something?" He queried, sounding genuinely concerned.

Isabel's eyes darkened slightly, but she smiled gently up at Al. "No thanks. I'll be fine if I can get home. Speaking of which, it's getting dark. How's about you guys come home with me, just for tonight? I'll have dinner too," she smirked as both boy's stomachs growled traitorously.

They grinned sheepishly, but Ed, stubborn to the end, stated lowly, "No thanks. We've slept outside without food before, we'll survive."

"Brother," Alphonse hissed. "I don't think it's a good idea to sleep outside again. Plus it feels a little cold out and I don't think my body will be able to cope if it isn't warm." Alphonse didn't want to sound like a crybaby, but it was true, and if either of them got sick it would delay their plans.

"Yeah, there's no need to be stubborn Edward." Isabel interjected. "You saved my life, you and Alphonse. The least I can do is give you food and shelter for the night. And, for some reason, you're very easy to catch off guard tonight, you should stay somewhere safer. Plus, I'll need to explain to Ryo what happened, and he can't kill me if we have guests." She smiled winningly at Edward.

"Okay," Ed relented. For some reason this girl reminded him of Teacher or Winry; a strong and caring woman you didn't want to trifle with. He got up quickly, grumbling stubbornly but shooting a grateful glance at Isabel. Al snickered and followed Isabel and Ed out of the forest and toward the town, wondering who this Ryo was.

Soooo… yeah…. That would be chapter one. Anyways, please review, critique, ask questions, comment, REVIEW, bit don't flame. They make me sad.

Now I have a riddle for you to answer. Whoever gets it right first, I will write a drabble of your choice for you with restrictions of course. I won't go against my morals…

Anyway, here it is:

It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you'll die. What is it?