Return To Central

"Al, hurry! We're gonna be late! Isaac and I are all ready to go!" Ed yelled from downstairs. Though the trip had been put on hold (for a year) the Elrics were finally going back to Central.

"Ed, don't yell at your brother like that," said Granny Pinako as she walked by Ed and Isaac.

"But, Granny, he's being slow!"

"Ed. Calm yourself." Ed turned around to see Winry looking him right in the eye. "You be careful. Keep an eye on Isaac and his automail, and don't let Al get himself into too much trouble. And, if anything should happen, just promise that you'll all come back alive." Winry was always worried about Ed and Al whenever they left. The last time they left for Central, Al was a walking, talking suit of armor, and Ed was an Alchemist who always managed to ruin his automail.

"Winry, nothing's going to happen. But, I promise you, we'll all come back to you in a month, fully alive." Ed kissed Winry on the cheek and they shared a hug. Al finally came running down the stairs and out the door. "Bye, Winry. We'll be back! I love you! See you later, Granny."

"Ed..." whimpered Winry as she watched the trio run off toward the train station.

"You haven't told him yet, have you?"

"No, Granny. I can't muster the ability to."

Ed, Al, and Isaac were sitting in the train station waiting for the train.

"Awh, man! I was worried about us being late, and the train's twenty minutes late!" Ed yelled to the sky. Just then, they heard the roar of the train coming down the tracks.

"Looks like your whining did something to speed up the process, Brother. Haha," Al said chuckling.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever Al." A man walked by Ed and bumped him a little. The man continued to walk, without even an apology.

"Hey, you could at least say sorry!" The man turned and Ed just barely saw the bottom of his face.

"Sorry," said the man. Ed saw something on the man's chin that he thought he recognized. It left him speechless until the trio was halfway to Central.

"Al, did you see that man's face?"

"The man at the train station? Not really. Why?"

"I got a glimpse of his chin. I saw red ink. Looked like a circle... I think he had an ouroborus tattoo." Al was wide-eyed and had his mouth held open in shock.

"You mean like the Homunculi had?!"

"Exactly..."

"I'm confused. Ouroborus tattoo? Homunculi? What are you guys talking about?" asked Isaac.

"You know when Fuhrer Bradley was still alive and in charge?" asked Ed.

"Yeah. I loved that guy! He did great things for this country!"

"No... He didn't. He was a homunculus. An artificial human," Al explained.

"Wait... You mean like a transmuted human?!"

"No... human transmutation isn't even possible. Not what we wanted at least. This was worse. This guy that they called Father took Philosopher's Stones and made humans swallow them. Philosopher's Stones have many human souls in them. When these Stones were swallowed, the human subject would go through a lot of pain. They'd either die, or become a homunculus. Homunculi are nearly immortal creatures. They can regenerate, and have to be killed multiple times to actually die. The original Homunculi were named Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Pride, and Sloth," explained Ed.

"The seven sins?"

"Yes. This Father guy took those emotions out of him and manifested them into these Homunculi. Bradley was truly Wrath. That's why he lead the country. Pride was his "son." He looked innocent, but he was the worst of them all. Then there was Lust. She was the only female Homunculus. She was pretty, but she was a bitch. Envy was able to shape shift, but he was really a little green slug thing. He was jealous of the humans. Gluttony was a failed Portal of Truth recreation. The Portal of Truth is what you opened when you attempted Human Transmutation." Ed hesitated before continuing. "We did it too. Greed was the only Homunculus not with Father. He liked to do things his own way. He ended up being on our side to fight the Homunculi and Father. He lost his life twice. He was brought back in the body of our friend Ling Yao, the now Xingese Emperor, after Father made Ling swallow a Philosopher's Stone. Then Sloth. We don't know much about him except that he was big and hated doing things." Ed finally finished explaining the Homunculi to Isaac as the trio arrived in Central City.

"We're here, Brother!" exclaimed Al. He was excited to be back. There was a little girl and her mother that he wanted to see, and he was excited to see how Roy Mustang was doing. He and Ed, however, thought that Mustang was still a Colonel.

"Isaac, you sure you don't want to go to Command with us?" asked Ed. They promised Armstrong that they'd go visit everyone at Command before doing anything else.

"You guys go on. I've got some stuff I need to check up on at the library. We can meet here in 4 hours, okay?" answered Isaac. Ed and Al weren't sure what he wanted from the library, but they could see he was determined to get it. So, Isaac went on his way to the library. Upon arrival, he bumped into a man with dark skin and a scar x across his forehead.

"*oof* Excuse me, Mister. I didn't mean to... Hey, I know who you are. Yeah, Ed and Al told me all about you. The Ishvalan named Scar!"

"You mean the Elric brothers? You know them?" asked Scar.

"Yeah. I met them about a year ago. Winry gave me this," said Isaac. He lifted his sleeve and revealed his automail. "I stayed with them to rehabilitate, and now we're all here in Central."

"They're here..." Scar looked into the sky. "Good. Thank you. May I ask your name, please?"

"I'm Isaac Hamilton, formerly of Fort Briggs!"

"Hamilton... That name sounds familiar," said Scar. He looked worried.

"My mother was a State Alchemist who sided with the Ishvalans during the Civil War. She was shown mercy when Fuhrer Bradley realized how strong she was. My father was a doctor and State Alchemist. He helped many Ishvalans... unfortunately, he ended many lives of the Ishvalans as well."

"Your mother's name was Alexia, correct?"

"Yes. Alexia Hamilton."

"Your mother was a great woman. I knew her personally. How is she?"

Isaac looked down at the ground and hesitated. Scar saw a tear fall from his face to the ground. "She's... passed. My mother is no longer living."

"Is that why you have that metal arm? Did you try to bring her back?"

"No. The Taboo is the reason I have this arm, but not my mom. I tried to bring my dad back to life, and instead I lost my arm."

"I see... I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have any family?"

Looking up to the heavens, as if to look at his mother and father, Isaac contemplated this. He then smiled with a big smile, and looked directly into Scar's eyes. "Just one year ago, I would've said no. But now, after my time with Ed, Al, Winry, and Granny Pinako, yes. They're my family. They may not be able to replace my parents, but they can fill the hole that my parents' deaths left in my heart. It's not the piece of my heart that I lost, but it is equally as good. I can't even say that I'd trade those four for my parents. They've accepted me as family, and that makes me feel so good." Isaac walked past Scar to advance toward the library.

"I'm happy to hear that, Isaac. I, too, would like to believe that the Elrics, at least at one time, saw me as family," said Scar, turning to look at Isaac.

Without looking back, Isaac clinched his fist, and said, "If you think they didn't, you're a blind fool. The Elric brothers would do anything for you, and your people, simply because of how you helped them. They see you as more than family. They see you as a brother. And if not a brother, then they see you as the father they didn't have until late in his life. Your relationship with them may have started off bad, but it still remains a strong bond. Never forget that. I will see you later, Scar. I'm sure of it." Isaac turned, his eyes closed. He flashed a big grin at Scar and raised his thumb. Isaac walked into the library and looked for the receptionist's desk.

Man, this is a big library. And this is the public library. I don't know how much information I'll find without a State certification... I may have to work on that. It might be easier now that I can transmute without a circle. But I haven't tested the limits of my Alchemy with this new arm either.

"May I help you? You look lost," said a woman who worked at the library.

"I am. I'm lost in here and in my own thoughts." Isaac turned to face the woman. "Can you tell me where I may find some research books?"

"Oh, you're a thinker, are you. Let me guess... you're an Alchemist. I can see it in your eyes. Your eyes look like they've seen a lot." The woman looked deep into Isaac's eyes.

"I guess you could say that..." Isaac looked at the ground and remembered the things he'd seen.

"If you want real research material, you won't find it here. The best research we have is cook books. And, no, they aren't code. They're written by true chefs of Amestris. You may have to go to the State Library."

"That's impossible! You have to have something!"

"I'm afraid we don't. I'm sorry."

"No. I'm sorry for shouting at you. Have a nice day, Miss."

"Call me Alissa. Alissa Ross."

"Are you... Maria Ross's sister?"

"Yes, I am. How do you know my sister?"

"She was friends with a couple of my friends, the Elric brothers. They told me a lot about her."

"Oh, you know the Elrics?! That's so cool!" Alissa pondered for a second, then said, "Hey, I have a question for you..."

"Yes?"

"Have you ever taught anyone... can you teach me Alchemy? I know the basics, and can even perform basic transmutations, but I wanna be a State Alchemist really bad. And, I figure, since you know the Elrics, surely you know a lot about Alchemy. Or maybe, you're even a super good Alchemist!"

"I don't think I'd go so far as to call myself a super good Alchemist... But I think it's in your best interest if you ask someone else. Maybe Ed and Al can teach you... I'd love to, but for your own good, you should steer clear of me..." Isaac walked out of the library, leaving Alissa to wonder,

What could be so bad about him that he won't train my Alchemy?

Well... no avoiding it now. I have to become a State Alchemist...