The Father.

Destruction.

My little brother gone in a flash of white light.

Older brother.

Human Transmutation.

Never returned.

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. This is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. I later learned that hard work and patience can contribute to Equivalent Exchange. This is my story.

"No!" I collapsed to my knees as my older brother disappeared in a bright flash of light, just as Al had a few minutes before. Rubble and shrapnel dug into my palms and knees, the pavement cracked and broken from Father's last few attacks. I stared at the damned transmutation circle that my brothers and I had spent so many days on years ago. All that seemed to be a distant memory, yet the image of what we created was vivid. That night. That damned night when we thought we could do it and succeed. I clenched my fists and watched as the tears splattered silently onto the gray concrete. Gathering strength, I got onto one knee, and then stood shakily. I took a few deep breaths, while my mind tried to perceive what was happening. I couldn't accept it. They… They couldn't be gone. They just couldn't…

The others in the courtyard eyes were on me, waiting for my reaction. I had just lost my younger brother, older brother and nearly lost my father in a single day. It seemed like a nightmare that I knew was true. I hobbled towards the circle to activate it myself, but Izumi held me back. I kicked, screamed and punched, ignoring the pain in my side from fighting with Pride earlier, but Izumi wouldn't let me go. Somehow I could bring my brothers back. I knew I could. I could give my soul, mind body and my Alchemic knowledge to bring them back somehow. Anything! There was nothing I wouldn't give to get my brothers back. They… They deserved to live. We had worked for hard and so long for all these years just to have Ed and Al… I fought Izumi with tears of sadness, anger and pain staining my cheeks and the golden color hair that escaped my ponytail during the fight against Father clung to my face. A tear fell onto my red jacket that was identical to my older brother's. I looked over my shoulder at Teacher, who was also crying heavily but trying to hold it back. A distant memory came to the surface.

At the Resenbool train station, after months of training, we were finally going back home. She smiled at us warmly and gave us a hug each. "Take care of yourselves and don't try anything stupid." Ed and Al both nodded and dashed home. I gave Izumi one last hug, then started walking the direction that my brothers went. Right before I got out of earshot, I overheard Izumi say something to Sig, who also came to see us off. "I hope they will be alright," She said quietly. "They already feel like part of the family. Ah, the meat shop won't be the same without them."

I fell limp in Izumi's iron grip, knowing that she too was suffering the lost of my brothers. I turned and started weeping on her shoulder. I felt like I was 7 years old again, crying in pain from the twisted ankle I had received in a practice fight with Al. The mere thought of Al brought more tears to my eyes.

They can't be gone. They just can't be gone forever. I reassured myself over and over but that didn't stop the tears flowing down my face. "They will be back." I whispered. "They will be back. They will be back. They will be back." I couldn't think straight with my mind racing and my vision blurred by what seemed to be never ending tears. The little family I had was nearly all gone. Mother passed away years ago; Dad was being supported by two soldiers with a wide gash arm and was on the brink of death, Ed and Al… they will be back. I made I promise to myself, right then and there to bring them back, no matter what without using or making a Philosopher's stone. "Is Fullmetal back with Alphonse yet?" Colonel Mustang asked from somewhere behind me, breaking the eternity of silence that had settled over the soldiers and everybody who had taken some part in the battle. A small spark of hope ignited. I respected Colonel Mustang enough to keep his opinion in consideration because of his experience. With his belief that Ed and Al would be back, it boosted my hopes by a little bit. I stood there waiting for Ed and Al in Izumi's arms, just waiting for them to comeback from the gate.

When nothing happened for the next hour, Izumi whispered, "They aren't coming back." She sounded sad but sure. The tears that seemed to run dry started to flow again. "No. They are coming back." I said stubbornly. I waited for three hours just sitting on the stone next to the Human Transmutation circle. "Alex, if you stay out her longer, those injuries will get badly infected, if they aren't already." Izumi said sternly but a hint of sadness also crept into her voice. "Fine." I sighed. As I stood, I let out a hiss of pain when the cut on my stomach and arm's thin scab broke. Adding that sudden pain to my soreness and fatigue made me feel dizzy. I collapsed and the last thing I remember is my head hitting the stone ground then pitch black.

When I finally woke up, I was in Central Hospital with bandages covering my wounds. I also looked over at my automail arm which had plating missing along with lots of dents and scratches. "Damn it. Winry's gonna kill me… at least it's not as bad as-" I paused. The memories came flooding back all at once. Tears filled my eyes and I just lay there, tears overflowing and my vision was blurred. I sobbed silently until there was a knock at the door. I sniffled and wiped my tears away. "Come in." I said shakily. Winry opened the door, holding her automail tool bag and silently closed the door behind her. "Hey," She said quietly.

"Hey." The room was silent but the room held tension. Winry wordlessly started taking out her tools and materials to fix my automail. "The military called me as soon as it happened." She said breaking the ice. "I see..." I whispered. Heavy silence fell on the room again except for the sounds of metal ringing and shuffling. "So, what now?" She asked as she was fiddling with the wires. "I'm going to get Ed and Al back." I said simply. She froze. She looked at me with sad eyes. "Alex… I already lost Ed and Al; I can't lose you too…" She said after a long pause. "I have to," I said gently. "We promised each other that one day we would all go back to Risembool together. Al in his body, Ed and I with our limbs back… I have to get them back." I smiled a bit. "Two is better than one right? And I know a way to get both of them back."

On the day before Alex Elric was to be released from the hospital…
(Normal POV)

"She's gone!" Winry cried as she ran to the nurse's station. "Who?" Asked the nurse, who had jumped at the blonde girl's exclamation. "Alex Elric in room 119! She's gone!" The nurse called Izumi and Colonel Roy Mustang, who had Alex serve under him. After confirming that both of them had no idea where she was, they started sending people to search for her, as well as Izumi and Mustang who were in the hospital as well, visiting those who were injured. Mustang and Izumi met up with Winry and the three went out to search for her. "I have a feeling I know where she is. Let's hope she isn't."

Alex was exactly where and was doing the exact thing that Izumi feared she was doing.

"Alex!" Izumi and Winry yelled.

"All-metal!" Roy yelled.

Alex's golden eyes widened in panic and drew the last few symbols to complete the Human Transmutation circle. "Stop!" Winry cried. Winry, Izumi and Roy all were thinking the same thing; we aren't going to make it in time! "I'm sorry!" Alex yelled as she clapped and slammed her hands into the pavement as her brother did, weeks ago. In a flash of blue light, the circle activated and Alex was gone.

Meanwhile on the Going Merry…

"Oi Sanji! I'm hungry!" Monkey D. Luffy or Luffy as his crew members called him yelled to the blonde cook. "It is almost lunch... Meat right?" Sanji asked, already knowing the answer. "Yeah! Lots of it!" Luffy replied with a broad smile from his place on the Going Merry's masthead. Sanji grinned, and blew a cloud of smoke then headed into the kitchen. "Alright! Meat!" Luffy yelled happily. "Meat! Meat! Meat! MEAT!"

"Hey guys!" Nami yelled to her fellow nakama as she watched waves as they rolled by. "The waves have been moving a strange pattern, so keep an eye out okay?" Just as name said this, there was a yell from the crow's nest. "G-Giant wave! Usopp yelled. "Ehhhh?!" The crew exclaimed as a giant shadow fell on the small ship. The Strawhats scurried across the deck, doing what they could to get away.

"Put the sail up!"

"Take the oars and ROW!"

"Yes, Nami-Swan!"

"Yahoo!" Luffy yelled and clapped his feet together as the wave pushed the Going Merry as a breakneck speed. His cry of happiness was soon followed by a hit to the head. "That hurt…" Luffy said as Nami yelled at him and told him to row. Soon, it became clear that they were not going to escape the wave that was towering over them. "Grab on to something and hold on tight!" Nami yelled as she held onto the railing near the back of the boat, near her beloved tangerine trees. Just as soon as the last member of the crew had grabbed onto something, the wave crashed down and the crew was sent tumbling and was plunged into the waters of the Grand Line.

Meanwhile, where ever the heck the Gate of Truth is…

Before I knew it, I was back. Back in front of the tall looming Gate of Truth where many of my nightmares took place. "Back, Miss Alchemist?" I turned to see Truth, who was sitting on the floor a few feet away, grinning. "Back for your brother's I assume?" I took a deep breath. "Yes, and I in fact, know how to get them back." I told truth. After weeks in the hospital, I had figured out what might just bring my brothers back. Ed might have had the same idea but fail but this was the only thing I could think of. Truth chuckled. "Miss Alchemist, you might be correct on what exactly you have to sacrifice but, I'm sorry to say your brothers aren't here." Truth said.

"H-how can they not be here?!" I took a deep breath to calm myself and think this over. "I know Al, came to this side of the gate so Ed could save himself from Father, then Ed came to get Al back… They should both be here…" I mumbled to myself. "How is that possible? They-" I started. "They were here. But they aren't anymore." I blinked.

Did they return and I didn't know? "Miss Alchemist, you brothers are currently on the other side of the gate." Truth said gesturing to the gate he was sitting in front of. "You see, Miss Alchemist, they should not have reached the other side, but they did somehow. With someone from your side of the gate on the wrong side, the balances of the two worlds are out of hand. So that is why, Miss Alchemist, I have a proposal for you."

Truth making a deal with a human? There had to be a catch. "What are you proposing?" I asked slowly. "I need someone who can help balance it out. Basically, I want you to find your brothers and all three of you activate a human transmutation circle to open the gate and I will then allow the three of you to return here." Truth explained. "As a reward if you complete this task successfully, I will bring back you and your two brothers with all of your missing limbs." I blinked. I had an opportunity to bring us home back home if I just help out on one side of the gate. "You have yourself a deal." I said. "It won't be easy; I wish you luck, Miss Alchemist." And the door behind truth opened, revealing bright light that blinded me. With a few deep breaths, I walked right into the light. Behind my back, Truth was grinning.

On a island on the Grand Line…

"Argh! Argh! Arghhh!" With a pop, Luffy's head finally was released from the pile of sand that it got buried and stuck in. After shaking his head to clear the sand from his face and hair, he sat up. He found himself surrounded by sand. "Where the-" He scratched his head but then noticed his treasured straw hat was not on his head. "Eh? Where'd it go?" He ran around the beach looking for it. "Ah! There it is!" On the top of a palm tree, lay his straw hat. He placed his hat on his head and stood at the top of the tree, now looking for his nakama.

"Zoro! Nami! Sanji! Chopper! Usopp! Where are you?" Luffy yelled from his perch on top of the palm tree. The palm tree started to bend forward, the weight of Luffy being too much. He was too busy yelling and looking around the shore, he didn't notice. That is until he was flung backwards and thrown again into the sand. "What the hell tree?!" He said to the tree. Luffy, stood and once again dusted himself off, a little more ticked off then before. "Zoro! Nami! Sanji! Chopper! Usopp! Where are you?"He yelled once again and started to walk along the shore.