Hello! Welcome to my test run on this story. I haven't been writing a lot lately (as one can tell from my page...) but I was hit with inspiration quite recently and decided to finally post this story. I only have the first three parts of this story written, but I will only be posting the first two right now. My continued writing will be influenced by the response that I get from this story. This prompt is new, and I am fairly certain that this story will be entierly unique if I can finish it.

Prompt/Idea: Ed and Al are Ishvallan. They have white hair (from Trisha, now Ishvallan) and Gold eyes (from Ho) and they have dark skin. I dont want to entierly rewrite FMA because I love it the way it is, but I believe that this will change multiple plot points and I will hopefully have a new ending if I keep this story up. This also means that the relationships will be different within the story, and I can't wait to plan it all out.

A Beta would be greatly appriciated! If you feel like you would like to Beta this story please PM me!

I do not own FMA

Summary: Being Ishvallan was never easy, but what if those prejudices could be overcome? Follow FMA from the POV of the Ishvallan Elric Brothers as they survive the tail end of Ishval, face prejudice, and continue to shake the world around them for better or worse. This will not be a vanilla retelling of FMA. Featuring Ishvallan!Elrics

Brothers of the Sand

Prologue

"Brother," whispered the small child. "Brother, we need to leave."

"It's pointless, there's nowhere to go," replied the older boy, sitting in the corner of the ruined hut they were in.

"If we don't leave, the soldiers will come like last time,"stated the younger brother, sinking to the ground.

The older boy stared across the small room they were in, his eyes fixed on the cot on the other side of the room. Specifically, on the body lying there.

"Brother," the small boy started, "please, we -"

" -we can't just leave her."

"But Brother!"

"No Al," the older boy shouted, "I won't leave her here in their mercy. She deserves better!"

"I know!" yelled Al, tears in his tired eyes. His voice shook. "I know Ed, I don't want to either. But we can't do anything. We can't even drag the cot, let alone carry mom."

There was a pause. Both boys stayed silent, slowly realizing the growing severity of their situation.

Ed got up first, his face tear stained and his fists clenched at his sides. He made his way to the cot, looking down at their mother, who lay unmoving upon it. He wouldn't cry, Ed told himself. He wouldn't cry again. He would have to be strong for Al, for his brother. It's what big brothers do.

Ed pulled the dirt and sweat stained blanket up over their mother's head, only her long white hair showing now. He clenched his eyes and held his breath before slowly releasing it. Now more in control of himself, he stood there for a moment, and then turned back to Al.

Making his way across the room, Ed picked up two head scarves from the floor.

"Come on Al," Ed said as he tossed his brother the scarf. "Put it on quickly. I don't want you getting sick out there like mom did."

Al complied, rising from the floor to join his brother.

"Brother, where will we go?" asked Al, following Ed to the hole in the wall that they had deemed the entrance.

"Away," Ed said, his voice soft, "I hear that there are nice people nearby. People who will take care of anyone. Maybe they can help us."

Al nodded in acceptance as they picked their way carefully through the rubble and debris outside of the abandoned house.

"Brother?" questioned Al in a quiet voice.

"Yes Al, what is it?"

"We're going to be ok, right?"

The boys stepped out into the open, the gold flecks in their red eyes catching the sun subtly. The dull scarves around their nose and mouth, their to protect them from the heat of the desert and the brunt to the disease that came from rotting bodies, rustled softly in the heavy and dry desert air. The air smelt of heat, of sweat, and of death. This was the new smell of their once home.

"Yeah," Ed replied, his voice more confident now, "we're gonna be ok."

Both brothers treaded carefully, watching for any signs of movement. This was the start of their journey. One that would alter their lives forever. This was their escape from Ishval, and it was only the beginning.