Prologue: A Way Home

"We did it, brother! We found a way!"

"I know, Al!" the boy grinned at his younger brother, his anxiousness evident on his excited face.

"All we needed was a single drop of our blood for the alchemy to work."

Edward carved the last part of the circle with his pocketknife, pushing a strand of blonde hair back as it fell across his face. He gave a small laugh. "I just can't believe it, Al. We're finally going home!"

"And you're just going to leave us here?" Eva asked passively as she leaned across the doorframe of the two brothers' apartment.

"We have to get back to our world," Al tried to explain. "It just doesn't seem right for us. This world is so different than our own. We could never get used to it."

"They must do what they believe to be right," said a deep voice, and Eva turned to see her husband walking up behind her. She reached up to kiss him, his familiar scent washing over her.

"Thank you, Scar-san," Al said, giving him a bow of thanks.

The man wore a pained expression on his face. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Oh, sorry," Al replied nervously. "That's what I called your double in our world."

"So that's what you're doing, is it? You're returning to your true friends."

"No, Lust," Ed replied, looking up from the circle. "In our world, both of you are dead. You know what you have to do when we pass through, right? You have to break the circle."

"Then how will you return to us?"

"Eva!" Kiet scolded his wife. "It is their home. How they must yearn to be returned to it. The world we live in now—that is our home. We belong here, while they do not."

"We have to go, Lust," Ed said, getting up and brushing the dust off his black shirt.

"We'll always remember you," Al added, tears coming to his eyes, which he quickly brushed away.

Ed took out his pocketknife once again and made a small incision on his arm. He handed the knife to Al, who did the same. They held their arms out, and a drop of blood dripped from each of the cuts. Al clapped his hands together, feeling the power between his palms, and watched as his older brother followed suit. They reached down and touched the circle with their hands. Instantly the grooves began to glow, and a sudden wind rushed around the two brothers. They felt energy coursing through their veins and pooling into the power that supported the transmutation circle.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and the wind grew to an impossible speed. Kiet and Eva covered their eyes as the light hit their faces. When the wind died down, they lowered their arms to find the room empty.

"No!" Eva cried, running to the circle. "Ed, Al!"

She put her hands on the grooves, willing them to return. Her body began shaking, a dry sob tearing at her throat. She felt a warm hand upon her shoulder and glanced up.

"The Elric brothers are gone from this world." Eva turned to embrace him, and Kiet took her into his arms. "You know," he continued, "what we must do. We must break the seal."

Eva gazed at her love. "Then how will they find their way back to us? They're still children, no matter what they say."

"Then we shall protect them and believe in them."

The determination in Eva's eyes shined in the dim lighting. "We shall protect this seal, and when they return to us, we'll be here."

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AN: This is my first fanfic! I really need some feedback, so please R&R!

Don't worry, the pace of the story will pick up!