This disclaimer is for the entire story, so I'll only be saying it once: I don't own either of the damned franchises, so stop asking me.
This story will be following the FMA comic, and not the anime. Therefore, Dante is not the leader of the Homunculi, but Father is. The comic is around the point where Ling has become Greed, and Lust and Gluttony are dead.
This is my first try at writing a long-term fan fiction, so if you must flame me, go easy on me, okay?
Chapter 1
The Trouble Begins
The Rockbell House, Amestris
The room was silent.
A large transmutation circle was drawn on the living room floor. Most of the furniture had been moved to accommodate it. Near hundreds of books on alchemy were piled near a wall. Edward stood on one side of it, Alphonse on the other. A Philosopher's Stone sat in the middle of the circle, the light bouncing off it to cast a red shadow on the wall. Winry stood near the circle, her hands clasped together, the look on her face suggesting a small bit of fear.
Alphonse couldn't believe their luck. After years of searching, they had finally gotten the transmutation symbols right. Now that they had a Philosophers Stone, the time that they would get their original bodies back could be near. His armor clanked slightly as he turned his head to face his brother.
"Brother… are you sure about this? We can still turn back now…"
Edward shook his head yes. "We're doing this. If we turn back now, I may never have the courage to do this again. It's now or never."
Winry crossed her fingers for good luck. It was childish, she knew, but she couldn't help it. She'd been doing it for years now.
Ed took a deep breath and placed his open palms on the circle. Al did the same. Alchemic energy shone from under their hands. The entire transmutation circle lit up, and the Philosophers Stone floated in the air, glowing a brilliant light blue.
Alchemic energy volts jolted around the room, one nearly missing Winry. One hit a stack of books, causing slightly charred pages to float around the room. Then something completely unexpected happened.
Ed sneezed.
He instinctively took his hands off the circle. Realizing his mistake, he quickly replaced his hands, but it was too late. Taking his hands off halfway through had made the circle highly unstable. The glow changed from blue to a bloody red.
Suddenly, one of the alchemic volts hit Winry. She disappeared with a scream.
"Winry!"
Al jumped up and ran over to where Winry had been. "Al, wait!"
Another volt hit Al, causing him to disappear as well. Ed screamed in horror. With a look of rage, and tears, in his eye, he turned to face to circle, taking his hands off of it again. The circle continued to spark.
A thousand thoughts were running through Ed's mind right now. He had thought they were so close to regaining their bodies. Now Winry and Al were gone, and there was no one to blame but himself. With tears streaming down his face, and the array still active, he did the only thing that he could. He thought that the very least he could do was die with his friends. He spread his arms out to his sides, waiting for an alchemic volt to hit him.
Sure enough, he was soon hit. Edward vanished into thin air. Moments later, the glow faded away, and there was no evidence that the Elrics or Winry had ever been there.
The Tendo Dojo, Nerima
Ranma poked his head out the door, checking to see if the coast was clear. He took a few cautious steps outside, darting his head around.
No crazed women? Check. No Crazed Rivals (Happosai, Ryoga, Pantyhose Taro)? Check. No Monsters (Dragons, Demons, Pantyhose Taro)? Check. No anything else to worry about? Che-
Suddenly, a green portal opened over his head, depositing two screaming people and a very heavy suit of armor on top of him.
Ed sat up, looking around. "What the hell?!"
Winry brushed herself off. "Where are we?"
From under them came a muffled voice. "Excuse me, would you mind getting off of me…"
Ed and Winry quickly climbed off. Al helped Ranma to his feet. "Sorry."
Ranma shook his head. "I'm okay. Where'd you come from?"
Ed scratched the back of his head. "Looks like we've got some explaining to do…"