Fullmetal & Shield

A second chance. An opportunity to make a difference. Some things will change but some things are simply meant to be.

AN. This story is based on Brotherhood. The title will make sense later. I've decided to write this story in short scenes. They will flow chronologically but there won't be a lot of exposition connecting them. Um… if you've ever read my other stories, you'll know that I am notorious for going on long hiatuses and then coming back to post one or two chapters before disappearing again. You can probably expect the same here, although shorter chapters may mean more updates. Reviews do help.

Disclaimer: Ed, Al, and all their friends are the property of Funimation. I do not own them, but am grateful for the opportunity to use them in the unleashing of my own imagination.

Rating: This story is rated T for violence and injury. Language is very mild.

Chapter 1: A Second Chance

"A second chance? What do you mean?" Edward asked, his gaze drifting about through the white expanse surrounding him. He was shocked to find himself here again. He'd thought for sure he was dead this time; that they all were. When that "Father" guy activated that human transmutation circle – that was the end, wasn't it? They'd failed.

"I could always send you back." The Truth answered. Ed turned to stare directly at the faceless figure as it continued speaking. "You and your friends down there survived the transmutation. You could always try to fix things from this point on, though I don't know how successful you'd be. Just look at the state the world is already in."

The Truth lifted one ghostly hand and gestured to something behind Edward. Ed turned to see a large circle cut into the whiteness like a giant window and, through it, he could see the world. The images changed rapidly but they were all the same. Edward clenched his teeth in anger at the sight of thousands of people – mothers, fathers, children – all dead, all sacrificed to the selfish desires of one horrible being. How could this have happened? Everything they did, everyone who lost their lives to put a stop to this, to keep this from happening – had it all been in vain?

"No. No, this can't be it! All those people… There has to be some way to fix this."

"But there is. Like I said, I'm offering you a second chance. You can take it or leave it. It's up to you."

"What does that even mean?!" Edward was shaking by now. He tore his eyes away from the destruction laid out beyond the window and turned his hard gaze back to the Truth.

"You'll just have to see for yourself, won't you?"

"Stop talking in riddles! Why can't you just explain yourself?"

"Time is short, Edward Elric. Make your decision."

Ed knew what he had to do. If there was any way to set things right, to go back and keep this from happening, he had to do it. But…

"What do you want?"

"Hmm?"

"Equivalent exchange. You're offering me a second chance but what do you want in return?"

"Then you accept?"

"I didn't say that! Tell me what you want!"

The Truth laughed. "You certainly are stubborn. Very well, I'll tell you. All I want… is a promise."

Ed looked up, surprised. "A promise?"

"Promise me, Edward Elric. Promise that you will keep this from happening again." The Truth gestured to the window and Ed turned to look at it once more. The images had stopped moving and settled on a single scene – a little house in the country with two people inside, a beautiful young woman and her grandmother.

Edward shut his eyes tight to block-out the image, unable to accept that Winry was…

"I'll do it. I promise. I'll keep this from happening."

"Very well."

His hand was small – small enough to grip the tiny piece of chalk without cramping his fingers. What's more – it was his right hand. He froze, disoriented, not sure what was going on. He could feel the cold stone floor beneath his knees. He could smell the musty haze of old books, ink, chemicals and chalk. He knew where he was. He just couldn't figure out how he'd gotten there.

"Brother?"

Ed looked up, startled. He hadn't realized anyone else was in the room and usually Al was so noisy what with his big metal limbs clunking around. But the boy standing before him wasn't made of metal. He was a real, flesh and blood, ten-year-old boy.

"Alphonse?"

Al smiled. "I think that's everything brother. Did you finish the circle?"

"The circle?" Ed looked back at the piece of chalk in his hand and then out at the figure he'd been in the process of drawing. "This is…"

He gasped suddenly, realizing what was going on. Standing quickly, he dropped the chalk and grabbed his brother's hand instead. "Al, you're… but this… no, we can't!"

Alphonse frowned. "What's the matter, Brother?"

"Al! We can't do this. It's too dangerous and it won't work anyway. It won't bring Mom back and I'm not gonna lose you! Not again!" Ed pulled Al into a tight hug cherishing the warmth of his brother's skin and the steady beat of his heart.

"Brother? What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere." Ed just held on tighter. "I thought you said this would work. What about Mom?"

"I'm sorry, Al. I'm sorry. We can't bring her back. It won't work. Mom wouldn't want us to anyway. She'd want us to stop dwelling on the past - to get up and keep moving forward. I'm sorry, Al. I won't do it."

For a moment, they both stood there – Ed clinging to his younger brother for dear life and Al trying to process his older brother's sudden change of heart. Finally the younger boy sighed and returned his brother's embrace.

"It's okay, Brother. You're right. That is what she would want. We'll be alright, because we have each other."

They held onto each other for awhile longer. Then Alphonse pulled away with a gentle smile. "Guess we should clean all of this up then. I'll go get a bucket."

Edward nodded absently and watched his brother disappear up the stairs. Then he turned to look around the room, the basement laboratory they'd used to gather all the ingredients they thought they'd need. He looked down at the human transmutation circle beneath his feet. It wasn't even complete. His sudden movements had smudged the chalk, leaving a mess which wouldn't transmute anything. It was just as well. It wouldn't have worked anyway and the cost… the cost was far too great.

Ed looked up at the ceiling where he could hear his younger brother moving around in the kitchen.

"A second chance, huh? So that's what he meant."