Before Intervention

Events that occurred in this Chapter happened before the first chapter.

"It's beginning to rain, Brother."

"The train will come soon."

"I hope so. This rain is kinda gloomy for me."

" "Gloomy" you say? You're describing the rain now Al?"

"I think so brother."

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, an unfamiliar man cam running up on them and told them that the train won't be coming anytime soon.

"So you're saying there's no train? Where are we gonna stay now ol' man?" Ed asks the man who came running up on them.

"You can stay at the town where I came from. Come, before the rain gets to yah."

"What do you say Al?"

"I guess we should go with him. You don't feel good when it rains brother. Your auto-mail might hurt you."

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Hey Old man! We're coming with you." Ed accepted the old man's suggestion and they went to the town where the man came from.

Naturally. The town they're expecting was somewhat quite but they thought wrong. The town's tradition is that, "Whenever it rains, Lit up a bonfire in the middle of the town and pray to the gods for a fresh start in the early morning.

"Weird. They're praying to their god brother." Al said with a question in his tone to Ed.

"As if I believe in those superstitious beliefs. We're Alchemists Al. We don't believe in those things." Ed said while frowning. Suddenly, a spiky haired man came and sat with them inside the tent where the bonfire is lit.

"You know Mr. Alchemist. Just because you're an alchemist, you can't just disrespect other's belief like that." Implied by the Man.

"Huh? Do I know you? Who the hell are you?" Ed asks with a suspicious tone in his voice.

"I'm just a simple traveler. I'm traveling around the world to find out important events and cultures of every people living in this earth."

"Oh I see. Well, we're just typical alchemist searching for something."

"And what is this thing you're searching for?" The man asked. Then Al answered.

"The Philosopher's Stone."

"Al!"

"Didn't this man say he is traveling around the world? He might have heard about it or something." Al answered back o Ed's Reaction.

"Philosopher's Stone, huh? I think I haven't heard about it." The man said to Ed.

"Oh, I see. Thanks for your time. Come Al. We're going back to the Inn."

"Okay." Al then followed Ed, but he looks back at the man and he sees a saddened look in the man's face. He remembers something fuzzy. He stopped walking. Ed notices Al and began to ask.

"What's wrong?"

"The man whom we talked to look quite sad."

"Maybe he just thought that we're kinda fun to talk with." Ed sighs after saying this. "Come on Al."

"I kinda feel different Brother. I remember that very same look from someone. But I can't remember who it was. We we're seating on some kind of a field with stones and such. It was sunset that time, and…that's all I can remember."

"Al…" Hearing this, Ed turned his back on all and begins to walk towards the Inn.

"Hey Brother! Wait."

"Al remembered the day when we were sitting in front of mom's grave. But he doesn't remember that it was me whom he saw that day. I was sad that day. But if Al was able to remember then, his memories are returning? Of course it is. His human mind is still there and his human self is STILL in THAT place."

As Ed started to concentrate, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Not knowing that Al was still awake and was looking after him. A man with a familiar face knocked on their door and it was Al who answered. It was the man they talk with.

"Huh? Oh, mister. Sorry but I can't let you enter-."

"It's okay, Al? Right? Can we talk outside?" Since it was nighttime, Al felt weird that they would talk outside but he had no choice. He remembered the man being sad so he joined with him. They headed inside the town's graveyard.

"Why are we here, uhm-."

"Van. Van is my name."

"Oh, Sir Van. Why are we here?"

"I wanted to show you that, my mom's grave. She was a traveler and I wanted to be like her. You saw me sad right. That's the reason. Now you know. (Chuckles) This is kind of embarrassing."

"No it's not! You want to continue your mother's dream right? Then it's not embarrassing at all! Me, I'm going with my brother to continue our goal! To…"

"To?" To what?"

"To…see our mother again."

"Oh, I see. How nice of you. Normally people like you guys don't usually need a mother's care. But I guess speculations are always wrong huh?"

"It's not actually about her Tender love and care but we want to see her smile again."

They ended their conversation and went to say goodbye to each other.

"Thank you that we met Mister Van."

"No, thank YOU Alphonse."

Walking down to go back to the inn, Al looked back but what he saw was only the grave. The man in front of the grave, Van is gone.

Morning Came.

"(YAWN) (Sighs) Huh? What time is it?" Ed woke up earlier than he usually did.

"You're awake already? The train bound for Central is 4 hours away brother." They continued talking for a short time then they heard someone knocking on their room's door.

"Elric Brothers? There's a phone call for you. Believe it's from a man named Roy Mustang." Hearing this, Ed opened the door fast and said to the man to tell Roy that he was not there but luckily, Al wanted Ed to talk to the Colonel because it might be important.

"Fine, fine. I'll talk to him. It might be something Important"

The Brothers headed to where the phone is and spoke with the Colonel.

"Hey Fullmetal, I need you to head in Central ASAP."

"Nice one Colonel, we're actually headed there but the train bound-."

"Bah! I don't care. Just head to the train station or I'll get your silver watch and burn it."

"LIKE I WOULD LET YOU! FINE! I'll head there, but you ain't getting my watch!" After talking to the Colonel, they both headed to the village chief and said their parting words and thanking them for the good accommodation they received. They headed straight to the station and they saw a train waiting especially for them. A man from Central gave them a letter from the Colonel.

"Fullmetal Alchemist,

I know that you've been wondering about the sudden summons but you'll know soon enough once you get to Central. Take the train waiting for you two. I paid for the tickets already. It's a first class ride. I hope you feel great during the ride. You only get to experience this for once that a higher-ranking officer pays a bill for his subordinate. Enjoy the FREE ride.

Mustang

"He's one hell of a-. DAMN! I'LL KILL HIM IF I SEE HIM"

"Well you are meeting him, brother." Al said while laughing. – End of Chapter 2