Hey guys! I have yet another FMA fan fiction for you! Wow, I just realized that I have only InuYasha and Fullmetal Alchemist fan fictions, but don't worry, those aren't the only animes I watch, not at all! I watch a ton. But my most super favorites are InuYasha and FMA, so that's why I write fictions about them. But soon I'll write another one for a different anime show, so keep on reading! And this fiction just might be one of my longest yet, so just be patient! Okay, thanks for reading my fictions, you guys really do keep me writing!

Also guys, I wrote this fan fiction to seem like it took place in the very beginning of the series, back when Al and Ed knew very little about the stone, just that it could give them back what they lost.

This fan fiction, once again, is dedicated to my bestest anime friend Mary! She gave me the idea for this fiction, like for most of the ones I write, so thanks Mary! And enjoy everyone!

Disclaimer: sigh If I owned FMA I would be the happiest person ever!

Chapter 1
Edward Elric sighed and sat at the edge of the road. Then he craned his neck and peered behind at the hulking metal figure a few yards away, crouched at a tree near the edge of the road.

"Al?" The alchemist called, "What are you doing?"

Edward heard the distinct creak of metal joints as Alphonse straightened up and turned around, "Nothing brother." He said, sheepishly rubbing his helmet, "I'm coming."

Ed glanced down into the valley, nestled between large mountains in the North of the state, it was very much cut off from the world around them, the train didn't eve come out this far. The Elric brothers were forced to walk for a half-hour from the station until they could see the town at all.

The sky above them was clear, and the sun shown down on the little town, making the houses and buildings that were made of metal sparkle, and the ricocheting light hurt Ed's eyes. After all, the entire walk to the village they had been walking thru a forest, and in there it was cool and dark. Ed felt a large shadow move over him, he glanced up, and he saw Al looking down at him, puzzled.

"Why are you just gazing into space like that brother?" Al asked, "Are you okay?"

Ed smiled at his younger brother, but inwardly he felt the same pang of guilt and sadness whenever he heard the young boy's voice echo from inside his metal prison, or whenever Al sat there uncomfortably as people ate around him, unable to taste the food himself. Edward felt as though it was he who should suffer as Al had, and that it was his fault that Alphonse had to be this way, though Al had insisted often enough that he felt no resentment whatsoever to his older brother.

"I'm fine Al, just thinking." Ed stretched, and once more glanced at the glittering town, "Well, Alphonse, perhaps this will be our lucky break, I hope this isn't another wild goose-chase, like every other town we've been to so far."

"Well, think positive thought brother, we can only hope that the information the Colonel gave us is right. He said he heard it straight from a resident if this town who was arrested by the military for treason."

Ed nodded, "They gave him a shorter sentence for his information too, I heard." He admitted, "But still…."

Suddenly, Edward was interrupted by a small commotion coming from the throng of trees behind Al. As the brothers neared the rustling bush, a small figure tumbled out of them. The Elrics sprang back in surprise, as the small figure straggled to its feet.

It was a girl, she hard dark brown shoulder length hair, and was slightly on the small side, though not too bad. Al distinctly heard her swearing under her breath as she brushed off her short pink dress, and straightened her hair.

"Hello?" Al tried attentively, as the girl had seemed to be in a certain amount of distress, because she hadn't even noticed them yet. "Do you need some help?"

The dark-haired girl looked up, and her brown eyes filled with fear as she caught sight of Al, who did look kind of menacing in the shadows of the trees, Ed had to admit.

The girl squeaked with fright, and tried to run, but she tripped over a tree branch, and fell smack of her stomach.

"Owww." She muttered, and pulled herself into sitting position, holding her left ankle and grimacing.

"Aww…jeez." Edward bent down to help her up, and she let him, but all the while keeping her big brown eyes on Alphonse.

Following her gaze, Ed had to laugh, "Oh don't worry about him! Al is as harmless as a ball of tin foil!"

Al smiled, (as much as he could anyway) at the girl, and he could see her eyes start to soften a little, "Are you okay? I'm sorry if I frightened you a little. What's your name?"

"Mia Suchocki"

"Do you live in town, Mia?" Alphonse asked.

"Yes."

"What are you doing so far out here? It's a long walk back to town." Ed put in, puzzled.

Mia brought herself up to her full height, and tossed her hair defiantly, "It's because of my stupid servant, Justin, he let out my cat, Kino-Chan, and he's lost because Justin left the gate open!"

Edward could hear Alphonse gulp, "A cat?" He ventured.

"Mmmhmm, a cute gray and black fluff ball. I miss him!"

"Umm, is this him?" Al turned around and Edward heard him taking something out from his armor, then he turned back around, and sitting in his arms was a cute mewing fluff.

"Kino-Chan!" Mia jumped forward and gently took her cat from Al, then she look up at him, and smiled her eyes glowing, "Thank you! You found him and kept him safe until you could find his real owner didn't you!" Mary radiated at Alphonse, whop suddenly got very self-conscious and started muttering, all the while blushing.

Ed glared at his brother; HE knew what Al was planning to do with that cat, even if Mia didn't.

"Well, then, you boys haven't told me your names! And also why you were so interested to know whether I was from town or not." Mia stopped snuggling her cat and waited.

"Well," Began Edward, "We are the Elric brothers. I am Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist, and this is my younger brother Alphonse. We, umm, we're here because…"

Edward looked helplessly at Al, truth was they hadn't made up a story why they had come so far to this town, especially since it was so far out of the way.

"We're just passing through, on our way to a city in the far north on a mission for the military." Al finally filled in, hoping it was good enough.

Mia seemed to accept that, but she seemed twice as interested. "You guys are alchemists? And on you're way through, too huh? Well, you're welcome at my home, we have plenty of room, and my father would be very interested to meet alchemists from the military! Plus I have to let him know my fluffy-wuffy-chan is safe!" Her pretty features darkened, "And I must make up a punishment for that stupid Justin."

And with that she set out for the valley, leaving the Elric brothers to follow in her wake.

So, that chapter wasn't TOO awful, was it? This fanfiction is actually based on a different one I was writing, which wasn't that bad, but to put this one on here I had to change it a bit, so tell me what you think! As always, I beg you to REVIEW!

Honey and Berries,

Jenni