From The Ashes Rises A New Hope

Disclamer: I own not FMA. But I do own this fanfiction and yes, Ed is a girl in it.

"No fair Alphonse! Give it back!" Shouts a little girl. Her blonde hair streams behind her and golden eyes stare accusingly at the boy she's attempting to chase. He could be an older brother by appearances, though in reality he's her younger brother, by a year to be exact.

"Only if you tell me where you got it!" Replied Al, who was holding a small metal horse. Panting, the girl caught up. She replied with a short 'Okay' then bent down on her knees. She really didn't care if her dress got dirty.

"I found it in Father's books," she explained as she carefully drew a symbol into the ground. "It's called a transmutation circle. From alchemy. Now all I have to do his put my hands hear and focus and-" There was a small shimmery light and sitting there was a horse made of dirt. "Ta-da." Using her hand she swept it away and then brushed off her skirts. "We should get back home. It's getting dark." The little girl commenced to walk, and her brother caught up.

"That was amazing Edwina." He said, still examining the metal horse.

"What have i said about calling me Edwina? I hate that name. The only reason I have it is because Mother always wanted a boy to call Edward, but when a girl was born she named me the next best thing. Edwina. So call me Ed." Spat out Ed, clenching her dress in her fists. Al chuckled and mussed her hair.

"Isn't that boy's name?" He teased. Ed gave him a death glare and began to run over the hill that would bring them in sight of their home, but then stopped suddenly. "What the matter?" Asked Al when he caught up, but didn't need an answer, for from on top of the hill you could clearly see the flames devouring their house.

The fire had already spread to the second floor, and soon the roof would be consumed as well. Ed continued to stand there, a look of shock in her golden eyes. Al didn't just stand there though, and began to run to the house, all the while screaming "MOTHER! MOTHER!"

When Al reached the house he kicked in the door, shielding his face from flying sparks, then ran inside. Ed could only watch in horror as the beams supporting the house began to groan, then shake, then collapse.

"Noooooooooo! Al! Mother! PLEASE! COME BACK OUT! PLEASE!" Someone was screaming, her voice shrill in panic and fear as the house began to smolder, it's fuel gone. The voice was unreal, never ceasing as to continued to wail. It took Ed a second to realize that it was her screaming non-stop as she rested on her knees. "Nooo. . .Al. . .Mother. . ." She mumbled, falling on all fours. Tears dripped down her face and hit the ground. She felt like her heart had been ripped in two. Al. . .Please come back alive. . . Ed thought before darkness consumed her mind and she toppled over, exhausted. A lone tear trickled down her face. Al. . .

When Ed awoke, she was lying on a soft bed under what had to be thirty blankets. A dull light glowed through the window, which she assumed to be moonlight. At her other side, staring at her while smoking a pipe, was Pinako. The old woman was decidedly calm, puffing smoke while Ed felt hot tears form in her eyes than trickle down her cheeks.

How can she be so calm? She was like this when her son and stepdaughter died, when her granddaughter left, and now, when my brother and mother are- Ed didn't finish the thought, since to her, accepting would be really admitting that her only family was gone.

While her mind rejected the thought, her body took full toll of the grievances. Ed was shaking, and hot tears continued to spill down her face. I hate being like this! Always being the weak little girl who can do nothing. Just passively wearing dresses and collecting flowers. Always crying, depending on others. I have skills—why am I worrying about loss of family? I can do alchemy—well, sort of. THAT'S IT! I'll find someone to teach me alchemy, and I'll get a job. I'll show everyone.

While Ed continued her frenzied thinking, Pinako had left the room. When she returned to a slightly calmer Edwina, who at least wasn't crying anymore, she held a bag in one hand and a hunk of bread and cheese.

"If you leave early this morning, you should be able to catch the first train. I'll pay for the ticket. After you get off at the correct stop, which I'll tell you later, find a woman named Izumi Curtis. She'll gladly teach any young girl alchemy. You should be back after a year—you are his kid after all. I hope that the next time I see you, Edwina, you will be happier. Now eat—remember, you leave early."

Ed stared at Pinako in confusion and delight. As always, the old woman had hit the nail on the head and realized that Edwina had no plans on staying in Rizenbul. Ed gave Pinako a smile of gratitude, to which she replied with a smile of her own. After that, no more words were spoken and Ed was left to slip off into dreams. Tomorrow she would finally start towards her goal, and maybe start to repent for not being able to help her brother and mother.

11 Months Later

Pain, blood, sweat and tears. So much in sacrifice, but was anything gained? Edwina had given nearly a year of her life to the study of alchemy, but had she received anything in exchange apart from the ability to make walls?

Equivalent Exchange. That's the first basic rule of alchemy. You give, you get. Simple enough. But had all those cuts and bruises left her with a better body? Had all the sweat heightened her endurance? Had all those tears, late at night when she would mourn her losses, hardened her outlook to the world? No one could give Ed these answers but her own self, and quite frankly she was lost. It had always been Al to set his sister straight with his warm eyes and kind words. Now Ed was left to wander the path of life alone, giving and taking, taking and giving.

Perhaps it was that wishful thinking. Maybe it was just the overwhelming feeling of loss. But one night, the rain pouring down in sheets, Ed decided to push her own limits and really test the theory of equivalent exchange. Nothing I've received matches what I lost. That broken leg was nothing to my mother's songs. That night I nearly starved definitely was unequal to my brother's love. So this is equivalent exchange, eh?

Array, materials, an empty farmhouse to the west of town. Everything one needed to bring back a lost family. So Ed tramped through the mud, ignoring the pelting rain, bag over her shoulder. Her golden eyes were determined, and a frown played with her lips. She had reason to be worried, since her teacher for the past months, Izumi, had explained human transmutation to be something one should never do.

Once the farmhouse was in sight, she pushed back her hood and entered the creaking building. Her array was already set, all it needed were the materials slung over her back. She deposited them in the center of the array, leaving them with a few drops of her blood, and headed back to the outside of the circle.

Steeling her breath, the young alchemist placed both hands on her the edges of the circle. A bright blue light shimmered, showing her attempts to be a success. Ed smiled for the first time in days, but was cut off when the light began to warp, and she felt herself being dragged by small little hands. Ed closed her eyes and screamed. She only reopened them when a terrible pain began to claw at her right arm and left leg.

Ed couldn't help it; she screamed again.

The little creatures were ripping and gnawing at her flesh, tearing through bone and muscle, finally succeeding in tearing her arm and leg from her body. What is this? Is this equivalent exchange? My arm and leg are hardly payment for my mother or brother. It became evident though what the limbs were for. A gate was quickly approaching, speeding through the ultimate infinity. Very slowly, almost as if it cause it pained, the doors opened to reveal the other side.

Golden pools quickly widened in surprise and horror as what was supposedly the truth flashed in front of her eyes. "NO! MAKE IT STOP!" The girl screamed, one hand clutching the stump of what had been her arm while she fell to her knees. "Make it stop!" The doors closed,as did her eyes, and when she reopened them she lay in the farmhouse, bleeding heavily. In the corner squiming and squishing could be heard. Too tired to find the source, Ed let her head lay down and once again she closed her eyes. Just a little nap. . . She thought wearily before passing out.

A/N: How was that? It may seem boring, but don't worry, after this chapter we skip to military!