I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Fairy Tail
Loke waited on the outskirts of Magnolia as he was asked by master Makarov. He didn't know who he was waiting for; he just wanted this to be over and done with. He needed to find a way to get his friends home. He had left them for a while now and was sure they were just as eager as he was.
Off in the distance Loke spotted his visitor come at him fast. Upon arrival the messenger stopped dead, falling to the ground. He lifted himself up on his knees and pulled out an object from his sack.
"What happened? Are you ok?" Loke questioned in shock.
"Not the time for that." The male answered while out of breath. He took the object from his pack and handed it to Loke.
"Where did you get this?"
"I didn't. But you know good and well what it is, and you know what you must do."
"Yeah, but you have to give me more information. I can't just show up with the key and expect them to believe me."
"Wendy got it, but she is so hurt now that she couldn't deliver it herself. Now please, bring them home. We need them."
"Right, but what is so urgent?"
"He is coming."
"Hey Natsu! I need your help here!" Gray cried across the yard. It had been a week since they group had made it back to the Rockbell's. There was still no sign of them being able to make it back to their world yet though. Loke had popped in a couple of times, but he was no closer to a solution than anyone else. They all spent their nights throwing ideas off of each other, but they spent the days working for their keep. Today Natsu and Gray were chopping firewood, Ed was patching the roof. The girls made their way into town proper for some grocery shopping, and Alphonse was watching all of them from the front porch. He didn't enjoy being left out, but there was no way Ed was going to left him hurt himself when his recovery was going so well.
"Can't we take a break? I'm starving." Natsu called back.
"Seriously? It's only ten in the morning."
"When has my appetite ever cared about the time? Hey Al! Is there any food we can fix ourselves in the kitchen?"
"Yeah, come on in. I'm sure we can find something to whip up. Edward! Come on down. We are getting a snack."
"I heard you from Dublith. Don't worry, I'm coming."
The boys gathered in the kitchen and rummaged for the bread. Ed found it first and Al found the sliced meat from the previous night's dinner. They all made their sandwiches to their own preferences and sat down do devour the feast. Natsu found the milk and passed it around, Edward refusing to even touch the stuff.
"What, you don't like milk Ed?" Natsu asked.
"No, and drop it."
"What's wrong? Seems to be a sensitive subject."
"I hate the stuff, nothing more."
Natsu got the hint and let it go, rolling his eyes at the boy. Ed had come to think of these fairy tail'ers as his friends. They had spent nearly a month together and had gotten to know just how good these people were at heart. They also were a ton of fun to be with. That was, when they weren't bummed out thinking about their home.
"So Gray, do you think Loke has found anything yet?" Natsu asked as he took a bite.
"I sure hope so. Don't get me wrong Ed, this is a nice world you got here. But I love my home, and I want to go back there soon."
"No offece taken. We would feel the same way if in your shoes." Al answered. Once they finished eating Al gathered their plates and put them in the sink. Ed watched as Al face lighted once he looked out the window. "They're here!" he announced.
Ed stood to look out the window with his brother, spotting the girls coming back from their trip. Ed watched as Winry, May, Granny, Erza, and Lucy all came down the lane. That is when he spotted the two outsiders with the group. Ed knew who they were instantly, the only question was why they were here.
"The hell General, who invited you out here?" Ed called once he stepped outside.
"That is no way to greet your commanding officer Edward." Roy called back. Hawkeye was right by his side, body giving away nothing of the humor in her eyes.
"My house, my rules."
"Technically, it is my house Ed." Winry retorted.
"Technically, Edward doesn't care where he is. He will still treat the General with disrespect wherever he goes." Hawkeye chimed in. Al had come out at this point to great the pair.
"Seriously, what made you decided to visit us?" Ed asked.
"I didn't. I was heading for Ishval when we ran into Erza. She explained how you found her friends and that they were all staying here till they found a way back to their home. There was a few other details she said would be better explained here, so we came back with her."
"Yeah, it's an involved story. Why don't you come in and I will attempt to explain it to you."
"So you are telling me that…" Roy tried to summarize, but he was doing a poor job.
"Pretty much. I can't really think of an easier way of explaining it all." Ed tried to sound apologetic. He was failing.
"So what will you do now?" He addressed Erza this time.
"We wait for Loke, to see if he can find the key back to our world. Or another way I guess. We aren't picky how we get back."
"Alright, but…"
Mustang never got to finish his thought. A bright glow shown behind him and he turned to see what it was. A talk boy with a slim build and hair like a lion's mane appeared out of nowhere. Mustang was impressed.
"From what you spoke of, I take it this is Loke?"
"Yep." They all said in unison.
"Hey guys. Who is the new pair?" Loke asked.
"This is the commanding officer we told you about, the one that found Natsu and I when we first came here." Erza pointed out.
"Oh, cool. Well, I have some good news." Loke smiled and held up a small key.
"Oh my god, you found it?" Lucy exclaimed. Everyone gathered around the spirit to see the key, questioning if this was really the object that could take them home.
"No, I didn't find it. Wendy did." Loke announced.
"What? Is she okay?" Gray asked.
"No, according to a source, she is badly injured. Charle is taking care of her now, but she needs some time. The guild has her in the infirmary."
Everybody's head hung, even the Amestrians'. They didn't know this Wendy girl, but if someone was hurt, it was a bad thing.
"Wait, who is your 'source?'" Natsu inquired.
Loke swallowed hard, obviously not wanting to speak any further.
"Loke, tell me. Who told you about Wendy?"
"The same person that gave me the key. He was pretty badly beaten up too, but he was able to get this to me. He said he wanted you guys back as soon as possible."
"Loke, stop beating around the bush, who was it?"
Loke started sweating, nervousness radiating to his fingertips. He turned around and quietly whispered the name, too low for Edward to hear it.
"HAPPY! WHAT THE HELL!" Natsu screamed. Lucy had to grab his hands before they ignited.
All the Fairy tail members stood in shock, looking at Natsu with concern. Ed was the first to ask.
"Who is happy?"
"He is Natsu's best friend. Natsu found him as an egg and has raised him since." Gray answered.
It was Ed's turn to look concerned for his new friend. "I am so sorry man. Listen, if he is hurt, then you guys need to get home, now."
"Yeah, lets go."
Everyone headed outside with Natsu in the lead. Loke overtook him and tried to slow his steps.
"Listen, I am all for going home, but we need to make sure we do this right. First, we all have to hold hands that way we don't get separated upon re-entry. Second, we don't know where we are going to end up, so it could be a while till we even make it back to Fairy Tail."
"Yeah, I got it. Now let's go!"
Loke stood and faced Lucy, apologies on her face. He nodded and turned to face the open air. With a quick movement he swiped the air with the key, landing it in a hole that appeared from nowhere. Turning the key he opened the door, a completely different landscape appearing before them.
"Man, is that was Earthland looks like?" Ed inquired. It was so much like Amestris. The grass was green, the sky was blue. They even had mountains.
"Yep, not much different than here." Erza answered. She turned around the face the Amestrians, her fellow guild members turning with her. The all stood straight up, smiling to them.
"I thank you for all you did for us. We wouldn't have found our friends without your help. We are forever in your debt, though I cannot think of any way we will be able to pay off our balance."
"It's okay, just keep doing what you are doing. As long as you fight for what is right, then we will be considered even." Mustang replied. He and Hawkeye saluted the crew, Edward following their example. Winry and May hugged them, and Alphonse shook each of their hands. With one last glance, the fairy tail crew turned and grabbed hands, each walking through to the other side. Once the last man, Gray, was through, he grabbed the key that was still in the door. He smiled and offered one last sentiment.
"We are going to miss you. Bye."
Roy, Riza, Ed, Al, May, and Winry watched as the door closed. They stood there for a few minutes, wondering if they were even real. They had a brief discussion of whether any of them so see a psychiatrist as they headed back to the house.
"Damn, that was surreal. To imagine other worlds exist." Winry added.
"Yeah well, I'm just glad to have my room back. No offense Al, but you snore." Ed complained.
"Hey! Would you like me to list all the crap you do in your sleep?"
Ed thought about this, and realized the dreams he used to have when Al couldn't sleep. "No Al, you better not. I'll kill you."
"No you won't, but I still won't rat you out."
"I'm curious now, what are you referring to Alphonse?" Mustang butted in.
The group continued with their conversation, trying somehow to return to normalcy.
Mustang and Riza stayed at the Rockbell home for a couple of days. They wanted to visit with the boys and see firsthand just how Al's recovery was going. But the East was calling them, so they gathered they belongings and started to head out for Ishval.
"It was great to see you again Winry." Hawkeye called to her. Winry returned the sediment and they hugged.
"Well Fullmetal, I guess I will see you when you decided to check in again."
"That or when you call on me for some ridiculous ass mission."
Mustang and Edward shook hands, and the pair headed off. When they reached the horizon the skies darkened, casting shadows on the entire plains. On the road between where the General stood and where he had left Fullmetal a pillar of fire crashed to the ground. Mustang quickly stepped in front of the Lieutenant, citing that he had a better chance against fire than she did. Edward and May came running, Alphonse too weak to sprint and Winry being told to stay behind. Mustang ran to meet them and they stood before the pillar, watching as the flames died down.
Once the heat backed off they were able to peek inside the vortex, only to gasp at what they saw. There was a figure in the middle, yet they didn't seem to be in any pain. Roy snapped his hands to make the flames calm until the figure was recognizable. She waited until the flames were completely gone to speak.
"Please, help us," was all Lucy said before she collapsed to the ground, skin burned and clothes in tatters.