AU: FMA characters are in a world similar to ours. At the beginning of the story Edward is 5 years old, he is in an orphanage. Trisha Elric is Alphonse's mother (Alphonse is around 4 years old)

(inspired by "The Mary Louis Orphanage" from AlchemyFreak0218 dating back to 12-14-2011)

Trisha Elric was arriving toward Central's Orphanage. Today, she was volunteering to help taking care of the orphan children there. The orphanage needed volunteers, because they hadn't enough money to hire enough people to take good care of children.

- Good afternoon Miss, I'm Mrs. Ryu, how can I help you?

- Good afternoon, I'm Trisha Elric, I volunteered to help taking care of children here

- Oh, yes, I remember talking to you on the phone, come with me, I'll introduce you to the children

- Thank you

And so, they both went toward the play room.

- Please be quiet for a minute, I'd like to introduce you to someone

All the children looked toward her

- So, she is Trisha, and she will be taking care of you starting today.

Each of the children came toward her to introduce themselves to Trisha. Though, after all of them had come, she noticed a small blonde boy who had stayed alone in a corner of the room. He was reading a book, but from where she was, she couldn't see what it was.

- Who is this boy? Why is she staying alone?

- His name is Edward, he is really kind, just really shy too, and he can be really absorbed in what he's doing, I guess he just didn't noticed us.

So, they both went toward him.

- Edward, Mrs. Ryu called, gently placing her hand on his shoulder to get his attention

- What is it Mrs. Ryu?

- I would like you to meet Miss Trisha Elric, she'll be taking care you an the other kids.

- Hi Edward, Trisha said smiling softly at him

- Hello

- How old are you Edward?

- I'm five

- Why are you alone?

- I'm reading a book, I need to focus to understand

- Sure, I'll let you focus then, just know that you can come to me if you need anything

- Thank you Miss Trisha

And so, they left Edward to his book.


And so, each following day, Trisha came back and played with the kids. And, each time, Edward got closer to her. One day though, she noticed something on Edward's forearm. She saw a big scar.

- Edward, what is this scar?

- No-nothing.

She gently grabbed his wrist and pulled up his sleeve to see a lot of other scars. She gasped in shock.

- Edward, come with me please

- O-okay

She picked him up and too him toward where Mrs. Ryu was

- Mrs. Ryu, I think I need to talk to you

- What is it Miss Elric.

- I saw a lot of scars on Edward's arm, I thought I needed to tell you

- I already knew, don't worry.

- But… what caused them?

- I don't think it's time to tell you yet, I'll explain you everything later.

- O-okay.


The following days, Edward was often avoiding her.

Though, one day, Trisha came with her son, Alphonse, who was 4 years old.

- Good afternoon Mrs. Ryu, I'm sorry, but today I had to come with my son, I couldn't find anybody to take care of him

- Don't worry, it's not an issue

- Thank you

And so, she went toward the play room with Alphonse.

When she arrived, a few kids came toward her.

- Who is he?

- He's Alphonse, he's my son.

- Hi Alphonse

- He-hello, he said, hiding behind his mother's legs.

- Don't be so shy Alphonse, you can play with them

However, he always stayed close to his mother. At least, until he saw Edward alone in a corner of the room. He was quite interested by the book.

He went toward him.

- Hello, what's youw name

- Edward, and you?

- I'm Alphonse, you know how to wead?

- Yes, I learnt

- Me I don't know, can you wead me the stowy

- Yeah

And, so, Edward began reading Alphonse the story. Even though, sometimes he didn't understood some of the words.

A few hours later, Trisha and Alphonse had to leave, and Edward was quite disappointed. So, Trisha promised she would bring Alphonse back another day, which made Edwards smile.


And so, after a few more days, Edward and Alphonse were getting really friendly toward each other. Which surprised a lot Trisha, because Alphonse was usually very shy.

Though, it made her really happy, because he hadn't a lot of friends, so it was a good thing that he finally got some friend.

One day, a week later, Alphonse came toward her.

- Mommy! Mommy! Look what I learnt!

- What is it sweetheart?

- I can read!

- Really?

- Yes, look, he grabbed a book that he had brought with him and starting reading a few words, though, quite quickly, he didn't know how to read the new words he hadn't learnt yet. He looked disappointed at his mom.

- I... I thought I could read… he said at the verge of tears.

- It's okay sweetie, it takes a lot of time to learn it, you've already learnt a lot

- Really, he asked hope filling his eyes

- Yes, now go back to play

- Yay

And so he got back to playing with other kids


Around a week later, he came toward her, once again, though, this time, he looked confused.

- Mommy, why does Edward have a metal leg

- What do you mean Alphonse?

- Why his leg is metal?

- His leg isn't metal

- Yes it is, look! He said, dragging Edward toward her and showing her Edward's metal left foot.

Trisha gasped in surprise, she had never since such a thing, it was a prosthetic leg, and it surprised her for two reasons, first, she had never seen such a young child with a prosthetic, and, she had never seen such a prosthetic. She tried to get a calmer face.

- I don't know Alphonse, but it's not so important okay.

- Oh… okay mommy thank you

And so, both children went back to playing together.

Trisha, on her side, really wanted to talk to Mrs. Ryu. Though, she wasn't here today, so Trisha would wait to ask her about it.