A/N this is my first Fullmetal Alchemist fanfic. I hope you enjoy it, Please read and review. This is based after the movie and follows the anime and some parts of the manga

"People cannot gain something without first sacrificing something in return. Therefore you must present something of equal value in order to gain that something. This is the principle of equivalent exchange in alchemy. And we believed that to be the worlds one and only truth when we were young." – Alphonse

Chapter 1

South Wales 1925

The Dodge came to a bumpy stop. The passenger rubbed his dark golden head after hitting the metal support for the canvas roof for the last time. After spending many hours upon the poorly maintained road. "Al are you sure this is the right address?" the driver asked. Blue eyes darted down at the piece of paper within his grasp before staring at the house sign before them.

"Yes it is Ed." Al replied. Turning to his brother with a wide eye smile. This soon disappeared as his brother faced him with golden orbs.

"Are you sure dad is correct about this place?" he asked

"Edward we've come too far for you to be unsure…anyway I believe father."

"I hope your right."

Slowly they climbed out of the car, placed their top hats upon their heads leaving their ponytail hair whisk out behind them as they headed towards the country cottage. Edward raised his hand about to knock the crafted wooden door when it swung open.

"I have been waiting for you Elric brothers for a very long time." A girl stated

"H….have you?" Al asked with surprise filling his voice.

"Yes Alphonse…" A smile pulled at her features, "Please come in out of the rain."

Stepping aside leaving the brothers enter with their small suitcases. Once inside the lavish hallway she gently closed the front door. "Please follow me." She smiled. Slowly she led them to the left straight into the living room. Where red fabric sofas waited for them with an armchair in the corner. Along the one wall stood floor to ceiling bookcases. In the centre of the left wall stood a warm crackling open log fire. Which light the room along with the candles that was dotted around the room. Once seated the brothers analysed the host before them. She had long chestnut hair which was neatly tucked behind her ears. Big green eyes which was framed by long feminine lashes. With a loosely fitted crimson dress which contrasted with her hair. In a way she reminded Al of their dead mother.

"How was your journey from Munich?" She questioned

"We've had better." Edward replied

"Of course…. Oh my apology I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Alice Thomas." Concern then filled her face. "Oh I almost forgot to show you both your rooms."

"It's alright." Ed replied

"I'll show you right away so you can rest and freshen up before we dine."

Rising from their seats Alice guided them out of the room, back into the hallway. She bent to pick up the suitcase, but Al rushed ahead and grabbed them.

"You know ladies are not suppose to carry the bags." Al stated

"I see you have picked up the customs after only being in this world for two years." Alice stated

"We're fast learners." Ed stated.

"I know you are Edward… please follow me."

The brothers followed her up the stairs and turned to the left. Where only two doorways were left facing them in the hallway. "I'll leave you alone now until we dine at seven o'clock. Please don't be late." She smiled. Entering their rooms both brothers found many books on a desk with bits of paper sticking out. On the opposite side laid a double bed which looked inviting. Edward dropped his suitcase at the foot of the bed. Before approaching the window. Where gentle taps of the harsh rain hit. This joined the chorus of the creaking of rust in his auto mail leg. Staring at the blurred landscape before him.

"Do you actually think Alice can send us home?" Al asked. Making Ed jump. He turned around and let a playful laugh role off his tongue.

"I hope so." He smiled.

Al noticed the dark trouser leg sticking to the auto mail. "Brother dry your leg it's wet otherwise you'll ruin it." Al started to panic.

"Stop worrying Al" his brother replied

As he sat down on the bed and began rolling up the trouser leg. Then started to towel dry his artificial limb. That Winry gave him before he returned to Germany in order to seal the gateway.

"This leg is too short anyway." Ed stated. Since he had the leg he grew from his five foot five statue to five foot nine. Leaving his a big difference in leg size. "You know since you got your body back Al you have become such a worrier."

"Well nobody else is going to look after you especially since she died."

"I know."

He slipped his limb out of the customised shoe he had to have made. Just to gain some independence. Then began to dry the rest of the auto mail. Silence descended upon the brothers like it normally did since their new companion of this world Nora died during one of their missions to eliminate the weapons that Hitler had planned to use in his rise to power of the Weimer Republic. Now that he was safely imprisoned after his Putsch. This failed all thanks to the brothers' intervention with the gate into Shamballa.

"What do you think she'll use to send us back with?" Al asked disrupting the silent chorus of the tip taping of the rain.

Edward stopped drying his leg and stared into his brothers innocent blue eyes. "If we were in our world I would say alchemy… but here I have no idea Al." Edward replied