WHAT IF of a story

WHAT if Edward was the one who lost his body and Alphonse having the automail? Would every adventure they had have a different twist? Oh and his superior suddenly added one more person to the team. The story is from Al's point of view and based on the manga. "Entries" are to reveal bits about Skye.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist, altough I wish to. I only own any OC in this story. Yay.

Brother lost his body and I lost my left leg in that transmutation. Sometimes I can't help but think that brother was supposed to have his body... but perhaps seeing the gate had messed with me. I lost my right arm to transmute his soul into some armor. After I got my State Cert., we left our hometown of Resembool to find the Philosopher's Stone. With some extra company.

XXX

"Are you guys street performers?"

"Eh?"

I looked up from my cup of tea. I allowed myself some mindless adjustment and answered, "Uh, no. No."

"Honestly, Al. Focus on your surroundings next time."

I glared at my brother. I opened my mouth to snap at him when a voice retorted, "You could've answered on his behalf, Ed."

I turned and smiled gratefully at her. I bet if he could, brother would have killed us both at that point. He's got a really short fuse, though I wouldn't say it to his face.

My companion had shoulder-length black hair [which sometimes makes me wonder if she's the Col.'s sister or something] and wore a black velvet coat with a white blouse and ¾ pants. She noticed me staring at her and raised her eyebrows. I looked away, feeling slightly embarrassed.

I looked similar except I tied up my brown hair, wore a red coat with a black outfit underneath. Oh and gloves too. My companion wasn't afraid to show her automail arm, which was just peeping out of her coat sleeve. There was slider thing on her arm but she never said what it was for. Not that she says much in the first place. She's usually curled up in a chair reading.

I finished my tea and got up. They got up too and brother's head knocked the radio off its shelf. It spectacularly smashed to pieces on the ground. I apologised to the store owner and looked at my brother. "It's only fair you fix it."

He was already drawing a transmutation circle on the ground. I vaguely heard the store owner go "But how are you going to fix it?" when brother activated the circle and the radio was fixed, like brand new. "You can perform miracles too!" he exclaimed.

"This is just alchemy," I said. "We're the Elric brothers and that's my companion, Skye."

"Oh! The Elric brothers! The youngest State Alchemist at 11! But who is she?"

"A State Alchemist," she said, sitting down and staring at the church. "Title's Solitary."

"Never heard of you," began the store owner.

"Stick to the background," she interrupted, waving a vague hand.

People started crowding around us. "You must know Father Cornello! He can do miracles like you!" etc. etc. and "The Fullmetal Alchemist! I see the name is very fitting sir!" to my brother. As always, he took advantage and said in a pompous voice, "Thank you! This is my State watch!" which wasn't usual. My watch was dangling from his hand. I rummaged my pockets, finding no watch.

There was a hush. I looked up. My brother's arm was pinned to the ground and the watch had a new owner. It was now with Skye who handed it to me. "Thanks," I managed to say before she went off to the church. My brother was now struggling to draw a circle with his left hand to release his right. I helped him and curiosities piqued, we followed Skye.

I only just nudged the door open when I heard a voice asking, "What happened to your arm?"

"None of your business."

I walked in, followed closely by brother. Skye turned her head slightly and looked back at a girl who appeared to have a pink tuft of hair. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something but after she saw us come in, Skye left. "What's with her?" asked the girl in front of me.

"I don't know," I answered, pretty much truthfully. She hardly talks to us, mainly reading or staring out of the window. "What's your name?" "Rose."

I kept staring at the door. If she was going to come along with us, why won't she at least say something? Brother and I saw somesort of demonstration not to far from the church. I could see Skye standing at the back of the crowd. Wordlessly, we stood next to her to watch Cornello do some stuff. Transmuting a couple of things here and there... without obeying the law of equivalent exchange.

Rose was there too. She was trying hard to convince us Cornello was using the power of miracles, but I didn't really believe it. The three of us who stood there knew far too much about alchemy to be fooled by him. "Al, that ring..."

I nodded. "It must be."

"In other words, let's talk to this Corny, right?" muttered Skye.

XXX

We were led into a large hall with quite plush carpeting. Some guy and his helpers accompanied us. Two of them shut the door and two stood beside us. "The founder is a very busy person, but you have good luck."

"Um, I don't plan to take too long of his time," I began.

"Yes, and we'll end it quite soon," said the man, almost growling with satisfaction.

"LIKE THIS!" and BANG went his gun. Brother's head flew off. He landed on the floor with a crash. His goons used their weapons to hold Skye and I. Rose was asking, "Brother! What is the meaning of this?"

"They're heretics. They were going to trap the founder meaning they're demons!"

"Surely the founder wouldn't have -"

"He has allowed this! This is the will of God!"

"Pfft. Get up, Edo."

Brother grabbed the man's gun while Skye threw the men guarding her down. I did the same and basically we messed them up pretty good. One chap was going to run, but I picked up brother's head and tossed it at him. He collapsed. Rose was in shock staring at brother. He was hollow, after all. "C'mon, let's just get Rose inside Edo and go off to see Corny," suggested Skye.

After a little bit of searching, our merry party of three [four, if you like] arrived at Cornello's room. The door swung open and we all stepped in. It shut, locking us in. Wonderful. "Welcome to our Holy Church."

Cornello appeared at the stairs at the room's other end. "Have you come to learn our teachings?"

"We'd like to ask you a lot," said brother.

"Since you were breaking the laws of equivalent exchange, all of us have come to the conclusion you are using a Philosopher's Stone," said Skye pointedly. "In other words, that ring."

He stopped scratching his head. "You are correct. Are you also a State Alchemist?"

"Yessir, not that it matters," she drawled.

Cornello began crooning about the Stone. "A mysterious power amplifier that enables people to do tasks of great magnitude with little cost. The Philosopher's Stone."

"I've been looking for that...!" I gritted my teeth. Stupid, power hungry fool!

"What do you wish to do with the Stone? Money? Fame?"

"How 'bout you? You've made a religion, and money isn't a problem," began brother.

"If you want to take over the country with them, it's impossible. You're just a tool." Her icy voice sent shivers up the man's spine. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of her. I hadn't the faintest idea how much damage she can do.

"WHAT?" he boomed. "You do not understand my plans, little girl!"

"I'm about 162 centimetres, thank you. You'd probably die in a couple of hours."

"SILENCE! Even if whatever I say here is spread by you, they wouldn't believe you, I've tricked them all!!"
He began laughing like a maniac. "So you won't give the ring, as expected. How 'bout Rose spilling the beans?"

Brother opened up the armour and revealed Rose who was trembling. She scrambled out. "Does that mean everything you told us was a lie? Were you ever going to bring him back?!" she screamed.

"Hmm... perhaps the part about the messenger of God was a lie... but with this stone, where countless of alchemists have failed, your lover could be resurrected!"

"Don't go Rose!" warned brother.

"What's wrong, Rose? Come here," he said, softly, soothingly. "Remember your beloved! Haven't I granted your wishes?!"

"That's blackmail," pointed out Skye, unhelpfully.

Rose did go over to Cornello. Brother and I shook our heads. "I'm sorry. But... this is the only thing I can rely on."

"Good child."

He pulled a lever. "Now to dispose the heretics."

A growl came from the darkness. "The Stone really is amazing. It can create things like this. Is this the first time you've seen a chimera?"

It was right beside us. I sighed. It was going to be difficult going melee, so I transmuted a spear. Just say the word and clap your hands!

"What?" Cornello was spluttering. "Transmuting a weapon without a circle... I see the name isn't just a fancy title! But it won't be enough! It can cut through iron!"

It sliced my spear into pieces - "Wooden sashimi!" yelled you-know-who – and cut through the fabric of my pants. "Damn! I just had it fixed..." I muttered and sent the beast flying. It's claws broke. "Well, my leg's a bit special," I said to the gaping Cornello.

"Then bite him!"

I let it bite my right arm and gave it another kick. "Take a good look, Rose. This is the result of human transmutation. The bodies of sinners who breached God's domain."

Since it was destroyed already, I ripped the sleeve and pant leg off. "I see. Automail limbs... the Fullmetal Alchemist!"

One full chapter of the manga neatly into three pages. A week's holiday has kicked off thus this update. I'd appreciate comments or reviews, if you like. Thank you for reading! XD