Welcome! Before you start, here is a little background,

I was scrolling through the publish process when I thought maybe I would just free write and wing it. Of course, since I am reading the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, it was my first choice.

This is what I got out of it. Hopefully it is somewhat enjoyable on your part!

So without further ado, I give the very first Chapter: The Failed Mission.

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Enjoy!

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*Disclaimer: I own nothing, not the characters, and components of the storyline prior to this point. I only own the direction it turns and comes together*

Bright light slashed in from the drawn curtains of the hotel room window, making Edward Elric cursed in his half slumber. Just when his dream was getting good too. Slowly, dizzy from sleep, he crawled from his place on the bed and reached to swish close the curtains. Immediately, the room darkened to a musky night. Perfect to sleep in longer. Edward rested back on the fluffy mattress, adjusting his pillow. He grunted softly before slowly drifting back into that wonderful dream..

"Fullmetal!" Loud raps ricocheted off the door, echoing at max volume.

Edward yelped as he flopped to the floor in a heap of limbs and metal.

"What in the hell?!" Edward straightened and rubbed the sore part of his head from the fall.

"Fullmetal, you better open this door before I BREAK it down!"

"Alright, alright Mustang. I'm coming. Unfortunately, you woke me up, so deal with me dragging myself to the door," Edward mumbled sharply, shuffling to the door.

Alphonse Elric laid in the corner next to the bed, leaning against the wooden night stand, watching his older brother take his sweet time. He would've gotten up to do it, but he had been so startled by the Colonel's outburst he had decided to hang back. Pressing himself against the wall, he waited for the worst. He hoped Ed wouldn't provoke the Colonel.

But that was very unlikely...

Edward twists the knob with his deft, metal fingers, flinging open the door. "What do you want, Colonel, Royal Pain in the Ass?

Alphonse mentally pale face palmed. Really, brother. You couldn't be mature and rational?

Colonel Roy Mustang pushed past the short blonde into the room. Standing at 4"11, it wasn't hard for the grown man, who stood at around 6 feet. Yes, if the teen had been a little more aware, he most likely could have fought it. With his temper as short a fuse as he himself was. Not to mention the strength of his mechanical arm and leg. But, the sleep still wearing off, he was at a disadvantage.

Ed glared at the Colonel, his amber eyes glinting gold in rage. His antenna at his brow even bent at his anger. Though, it was hard to take the 16 year old seriously, his blonde hair at a disarray, sprouting everywhere and out of his usual braid or ponytail he'd taken a liking too. Roy held in a chuckle and remembered his anger at the young State Alchemist. He better have a good reason for causing this much trouble.

"You," He swung the door shut with his foot. "Have a lot of explaining to do, Fullmetal."

Edward blinked away his brain fog fast. Explaining what to do?

First, he just barges in with no notice. And then accuses him of doing something worth hunting him down, banging down the door, to have him explain himself? Second... Second...

Well, Ed couldn't be completely off the hook. He definitely has caused some issues in the past. No where near to the extent for this reaction, but he was not an angelic State Alchemist for sure.

Alphonse sat up from his spot by the stand, his armor clanking at its joints with the movement, "What do you mean he has explaining to do, Colonel?"

Roy turned partially to him. "This explanation includes you too, Al. Don't act so innocent."

Al visibly flinched at the harsh tone of Roy's voice. Oh, boy. What did they do that they didn't know about? Al suddenly was very scared of what they could've done.

Ed finally shook off his surprise and the crowded mess of his mind. "Colonel, you're not making any sense. What the hell do you mean, "explain" ourselves?"

"I mean your mission over in Liore."

Ed stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean? We gave you the report, we beat a fake prophet and found a fake stone. You have it all on record. "

Roy's dark eyes lit up like the hues in his fire alchemy. "Wake up, Fullmetal. You left the town to pick their own pieces. Instead of for the good, it changed for the worse. Rumors say that the Father is still trying to hold reign."

"And many people have escaped to outside areas, preaching to don't go there. You may not make it out alive."

Al leaned forward. "Wait Colonel, Ed said that the fake philosopher's stone had a backlash on Cornello..."

"I witnessed it with my own eyes, Mustang. His arm contorted. It was... There was no way he could use it without a surgery," Ed butt in. He had collapsed on the bed, arms limp with the weight of his guilt. How?.. They had helped. For it to backtrack, like this? Was not something they had even thought about. They had just gotten rid of the tyrant, hoping the town would find what was best for themselves. Ed had the strange turning feeling in his stomach, felt the churn of it to his core.

"When did this happen?" Al asked.

"About 2 months after your departure from the town."

Ed's eyes widened and his stomach dropped. That was 6 months ago. Why.. "You must have known then," He stared down Roy, a fierce glow in his eyes. "Things spread like wildfire here in the East. You knew, didn't you? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because we know how rash you are, Fullmetal. You would've dropped your current mission to go back and fix it. We had hoped time would take its course and the town would fix itself," Roy sucked in a breath, meeting Edward's gaze. "But, either you missed something in your report, or you didn't regard a force behind the problem. I believe that you might have left something behind that caused this chaos."

Both Elric brothers still. There was only one other thing that could've been hidden behind the problem. Maybe even caused the problem to fuel their own interests.

The Homunculus.

Roy read their body language. "So you did forge-"

"I didn't "forget" to report anything Colonel," Ed cast his eyes to the floor shamefully. "We just didn't take another component into consideration. As we just discovered them."

"Are you talking about those things, Fullmetal?" Roy questioned, recalling the one encounter he had with the creatures that never died. That healed themselves with a powerful force of alchemy.

That wasn't human but somehow looked to be so.

"Yes," Al answered for his elder brother.

"So you believe they might be behind the uprising and return of Father Cornello?" Roy glanced between the two boys, both with their shoulders hunched in defeat. He could tell it was hurting them deeply that this situation, the result of them helping, had ended up hurting the people of Liore. Roy knew his boundaries. He knew the extent these boys had taken things, their lives dedicated to fixing those things. And he'd also bet now they have put this, and the "homunculus", on their list as well.

Ed rose to his feet, his hair falling around him in fuzzy swirls of gold. Gripping his metal arm, he met the Colonel's stare. "Me and All will go back to Liore. Make things right. Even if it takes our lives. Let it be ours rather than innocents," He broadened himself, widening his stance and shoulders. "Not only that, if the Homunculus are behind this, they might lead us to the one who created them. And the one who sacrificed lives for their own gain. They won't get away with what they have planned."

"You're not doing this alone, Fullmetal," Roy stepped up to Edward, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Me and Lieutenant Hawkeye will do what we can from East headquarters. If need be, I will send Lieutenant Armstrong to help."

"Oh..., That won't be necessary," Ed waved off the idea, smiling tightly and cringing at the latter's name being mentioned. Al just chuckled lightly, sounding just like the tinkling of his armor as he raised hand to cover the slip up. Roy nodded and stepped back from Ed, moving to the door. All the while, Ed stared daggers at his younger brother, failing to cover his laughter. Roy turned at the door and the boys bid at his attention.

"Well, now that's settled. You will be heading to Liore. But, I'd advise you to bring some back up..."

"Back up?" He didn't like the way that the Colonel said it. Pausing, choosing his words carefully. As if Ed would disagree with what he was getting at. He obviously was not referring to sending another officer with them, having their secret at stake. Maybe he planned to just have them stay a distance from the boys? Precautionary measures for their safety or…

Back up...

Wait a second.

Al waited patiently for his brother to realize that the Colonel was hinting at his brother's weakness, if put down. His silver, mechanical auto-mail arm and leg, that currently reflected the small drops of watery light in the room. Dented and worn a little in places due to recent battles. It was probably ready for an upgrade. Without them he couldn't walk nor perform alchemy. Ed rotated to face the Colonel, his eyes saucer wide. "ARE YOU NUTS?!?"

"No," Roy struggled to hold an oncoming smirk. "Just thinking ahead. If you get injured she can help being right with you, instead of having to take time to travel to her."

"She's there cause she's safe!! I'm not going to bring her somewhere just to get injured, or worse, killed!"

"You'll be there to protect her, won't you?"

"I-I..," Ed stuttered for words in his outrage. "Damn it, Mustang! Of course I will. But bringing her deliberately? I-"

"She can help, Ed. Besides, you know I wouldn't put an innocent person at risk. She will be safe with you and Alphonse. She can keep you in line and in shape. Having experience in the medical field I can wager she also can be of assistance to the town in its recovery. It's a win, win," He smiled smugly.

"Keep me in check? Please! I'll be too busy keeping her safe!"

"Then it's settled. Since I know you won't call her, I'll have Lieutenant Hawkeye contact Winry Rockwell to come to East City. Where you, " Roy poked Ed in the chest, " Will meet her. Understand?"

"He-"

"Yes, sir!"

"AL! You traitor!!"

"Very well, then," Roy whisked open the door, the cape to his uniform flowing with him as he breezed to the hall. "I'll see you boys in East City."

"GOD DAMN YOU, MUSTANG!!! Let me at 'em, LET ME AT HIM, AL. You TRAITOR!!!"

Roy listened to the teen's ruckus all the down to the stairs and out of the hotel. And he smirked the entire way to his waiting car.