Chapter One

A Train In The Counryside

June 25, 1916

Whatever the opposite of homesick was, Edward Elric was definitely it.

Restless. That was it— he was restless. He stared out the window of the train, tapping his hand against the armrest. He still had a bruise on his head from where Winry had smacked it with a wrench when he'd said he was going to Xing early.

It had been nearly a year of Risembool, and he was feeling restless as hell. There was only so long he could be happy with nobody trying to kill him. Risembool had nothing for him to do— and memories. So many memories.

And Winry... he wasn't ready to admit that maybe Al was right about him and Winry. Ha, of course he wasn't! Him? And Winry? Of course he didn't— she wasn't— hydrogen helium oh hell.

Ametris jostled by, and he scowled at it. A man walked in and he scowled at him too. He glared right back

Wait, was it a girl? It might have been— on second glance, he thought it was, but he wasn't sure. Argh. The figure, male or female, had a prominent nose, definitely broken a few times. The height made him think guy, but the eyes— blue— made him lean toward girl again. The figure stood there glaring as if whoever it was, they were friends. There were no hints to the gender of the figure in the hair (scruffy, black, shoulder-length) or clothes (wrinkled white dress shirt, black pants, black boots). He quickly eyed the figure's chest and got no clues but a raised eyebrow— probably a female.

"What are you doing here?"

"Trying to find my luggage." Gruff, but female. She leaned against the car wall, putting her left hand on her hip. "And I'm a girl, by the way."

"What makes you think—!"

"Seriously, you were looking at my chest." He sat there glaring, arms crossed. She smirked. "Anyway, have you seen a brown shoulder bag?"

"No."

"Shit."

She turned on her heel and left. Ed breathed a sigh of relief. If there was anything he didn't need, it was another confusing girl.

Risembool

(Keir, Lytia)

Al laughed as he ran along the dirt road.

"I beat you again!"

"You did!" Winry laughed as he let her catch up.

"Are you letting me win?" Al was wide-eyed and concerned.

"Of course I'm not!"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good."

"I think it's nearly time to go home..."

"Aww, already?"

"It's nearly time for— Al, is that a desert?"

Al looked. It was, in fact, a desert.

"That— what? Deserts just don't randomly show up like that!"

"I know that!"

The pair walked over to investigate the mysteriously there desert— there was grass, and then there was sand, with no overlap between the two.

The desert appeared to be surrounding a city, one that looked quite old. They could make out the distant figures of white pyramids, and turned to find a distinct lack of Risembool.

"Towns don't just suddenly vanish like that!" Al said.

"No kidding they don't." Winry warily turned and discovered a previously unnoticed girl.

She was short and pretty, with golden-brown skin and dark curly hair. Her dress was blue, and looked both antique and exotic. She appeared to be rather shocked by Winry.

"Oh, hello! Could you tell us where we are?" Winry asked. The girl stammered out something that sounded Ishvalan.

"Of course she doesn't speak Ametrisian..." Al sighed.

"This is bad."

"Very bad."

They sighed. So did the girl. This was not going to be fun.

Central

Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye were discreet. The fact they hadn't been court-martialed for fraternization proved that.

Sometimes, however, they just needed to fraternize. Passionately.

They'd arranged to meet in an alley behind a cheap restaurant. The smell was rather nauseating, but they were alone.

Roy leaned against the wall and smiled as Riza walked into sight.

"I like the dress."

"I'm sure you wish it was shorter."

"I wouldn't object."

He had her in his arms and was leaning in for a kiss when there was a sound like a dying metal cat. They were instantly at a professional distance, Riza ready to pull a gun.

A large blue box appeared opposite them, and a man with a dorky grin poked out.

"Oh, hello there! Who are you?"

"General Roy Mustang."

"Major Riza Hawkeye."

"Oh, military? I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor who?" asked Riza.

"Just the Doctor." He grinned and stepped out. "So, where are we?"

"Central..."

"Planet?"

"Earth?"

"Oh, I see. I was trying for Taere. They've got a diamond moon. What year is it?"

Roy and Riza exchanged a look. Really.

"1916," Roy volunteered.

"Oh, really?" He looked at Riza as if he didn't quite believe it.

"So... That box." "The TARDIS!" The Doctor affectionately patted the TARDIS.

"I see," said Riza, trying to figure out how exactly it had materialized out of thin air.

"Never takes me where I want. But I love her anyway." He leaned against the TARDIS. "So... Anything strange happen lately? String of disappearances or appearances or... I don't know, rains of fish?" "Just the TARDIS..." said Riza.

"Besides that."

Roy and Riza exchanged looks. All they'd wanted was some passionate fraternizing, and now there was a madman with a box to deal with.