"So uh, Major Armstrong? Where's Al and Winry?" Ed asked, Armstrong gave a cheeky grin.
"They went on the last train." Armstrong replied.
"What! Why!" Edward shrieked.
"Because there wasn't enough room for us on that train, they should already be there at the house by now." After a few hours Armstrong and Edward stopped at resembool. Edwards' childhood town.
"Uh, don't you think we should be going to my house. Where are we going Major?" Edward asked.
"First we need to talk to Doctor Marcov, I bet he'll know something about bio alchemy that'll be useful going forward." Armstrong came up to a white painted house. They walked up the stairs to the door. Marcov opened the door and grabbed his gun.
"Tell me what you're doing here, have you come to take me back, I'm tired of the military, don't draft me again!" Marcov screamed.
"Please just listen!" Armstrong raised his hands up.
"Oh it's just you! Come inside." Marcov let them in, Edward sat down on the couch in the living room.
"So, tell us what you know about Bio Alchemy." Armstrong asked.
"I decided to rename myself and live by the country side, I couldn't handle it any longer, Order or no order, I'll have to forever wash my dirty hands, from researching that thing was too much!" Marcov growled.
"What thing is that!" Ed asked.
"It destroyed so many lives, during the Ishvalan war it wiped out so many people." Marcov sighed. "I tried my best to repay for my deeds, so I came here and became a doctor so I could save lives instead."
"What is the thing you were researching Marcov?" Armstrong asked.
"It was the Philosopher's Stone."
"Do you still have it? Is it here?" Edward asked. Marcov pulled out a small tube with red liquid inside. "How is that the philosopher's stone? It's a liquid." Ed gasped.
"It's not fully made yet. Nor is it necessarily a stone. Just as it has many names, it also takes on many forms."
"Finished or not, it still had great power during the Ishvalan war right? If an incomplete product can be created, who's to say the complete product can't be created! Please Doctor Marcov, allow me to see your research papers?" Ed explained.
"Who is this boy Major?" Marcov exclaimed.
"This is the Fullmetal Alchemist."
"But he's only a child!" Marcov scoffed.
"You think I don't know what I signed up for! I know what I'm doing! But I don't have a choice, if this is a mistake it's a mistake I'm willing to make. There's no other way!"
"Maybe someone with such a great resolve as you have can create the final product of the stone." Marcov grinned.
"So there is hope then!" Edward smirked.
"However, I'm not letting you read any of my research!"
"Why not!" Edward yelled.
"Because, you're a child, this is the devil's research, if you chase the stone you'll go through hell!" Marcov said strictly.
"I've already been through hell!" Edward yelled. There was silence for a moment as Marcov mulled over what he just said.
"You can always go through more, the Philosopher's Stone is not to be messed with by some child. It is a dangerous life threatening substance, and you should not even think to desire it, for if you do it'll corrupt your mind, just as much as it has corrupted others." Marcov said strictly.
"Not even if it's for a selfless reason?" Ed yelled.
"Never! It can corrupt the hearts of even the most righteous, I advise you to not continue your search on this stone any further." Edward grumbled at his answer.
"I'm sorry for the mess Armstrong." Marcov chuckled.
"It's fine Doctor, we won't be long." Armstrong turned to see Edward messing with Marcov's bookcase. He attempted to pull out a book but instead the bookcase opened into a cabinet. Inside was his research and fractions of several philosopher's stones.
"Ed, what are you doing?" Armstrong asked as he saw Ed put it all in his pockets. "How irresponsible of you! Come back here you scoundrel!"
Edward went on to the fields heading to Winrys and Armstrong followed soon behind.
"That was very wrong of you Edward, I'm very disappointed in you." Armstrong said.
"I have to get our bodies back okay. I got several incomplete philosopher's stones and Marcov's notes. He wasn't gonna give it to me willingly." Edward sighed.
"But what do you think Al will say when he finds out about this?" Armstrong asked.
"He'll probably be mad, but it's for the greater good." Edward sighed.
"You mean your and Al's good." Armstrong said.
"Let's just get to Winry's alright. We'll talk about it later." Ed replied.
"Finally, you're back, I was beginning to think you were gone for good." Pinako smirked kindly. "It's funny how after a few years of not seeing you, you somehow went and grew smaller." She chucked.
"Granny, you got it wrong, you're supposed to say how big I've grown!" Edward growled.
"How could I say something that's so clearly untrue?" she folded her arms and smirked.
"I'm still taller than you, you mini hag!" Edward yelled.
"Edward, that's no way to talk to your elders!" Armstrong argued, suddenly a giant wrench hit Ed's head and he collapsed to the ground.
"Edward, what have you been doing! I just fixed your arm and now you go and break it again! How could you be so reckless! Ugh!" Winry continued to mumble angrily.
"Winry, when I bought you for that wrench a few years back, I told you it was for auto mail, not for KILLING ME!" Edward yelled.
"Hey brother!" Al smiled, Ed could see that he had his whole right side blown apart.
"We need to get you fixed! Right away!" Edward moaned. "Winry, how long will this auto mail be?"
"It shouldn't be too difficult. But you'd better not break it again. You hear!" Winry yelled, Edward shrieked.
"I'll make something for you all! Come in." Pinako smiled. Ed immediately rushed to his room upstairs. "I wonder what he thinks he's doing! These boys, even when they're here you barely see them." Pinako told Armstrong. "Say, could you fetch me some firewood, there's not a lot of men around here and it'd be very appreciated." She grinned, Armstrong chuckled warmly.
"Of course, anything to be of service!" He marched outside to chop the fire wood. He broke the axe so he started using his fists. I wonder what Ed is doing, is he thinking about using the philosopher's stone right now? He thought.
"Where's Ed?" Al asked Pinako, she turned around and sighed.
"He's upstairs, barely said a word all day since he got here." Pinako said. "Strange behavior, even for him." Winry sat up.
"I'll talk to him granny." Winry went up the stairs to his room and listened in.
"Damn it, all these notes are cooking recipes. Marcov fooled me!" Edward shrieked.
"What are you doing in here!" Winry yelled.
"Ah, Winry." He hid the notes behind his back. "Why are you here?"
"You haven't hardly talked to us since we got here. Is something going on?" Winry asked. "Out with it, Alchemy freak!"
"It's nothing that concerns you." Edward shrieked.
"If it's about you then yes it does!" Winry started crying. "You haven't visited Granny for five years, she's lonely! And it doesn't look like you even care! So get your ass out of whatever is distracting you and come down already!" Winry yelled.
"Alright, I'm coming." The sun set and soon everyone went to sleep, Edward laid to his side, staring at the philosopher's stone in the bottle now in his hand. It shimmered in the moonlight, the red ruby color was almost mesmerizing. He could get lost in its glow forever. If only it was solid. Then it could be used for everything.
"Brother?" Al turned over in his sleep. "What are you doing?" Ed seemed to be murmuring. Al leaned closer. Edward sat up with a strange look on his face. "Why are you looking at me like that? What's been going on?" Al asked.
"It's the philosopher's stone Al, I have it." Edward said.
"Really? How?" Alphonse asked. Ed however didn't answer. "Can I see it?"
"You may drop it! I've been working my ass off to finally lay my eyes on this thing."
"Oookay, Winrys right, you're acting really weird. And I think that's the source of your weirdness."
"You want to get our bodies back right?" Ed asked.
"Yes I do." Al sighed.
"Then I'm gonna figure out how to make this philosopher's stone complete. We'll be having a better life, can't you see! It's almost in our grasp!"
"Brother! I'm not going to lose you to this stupid stone, I don't know what's come over you. But I don't like what I see." Alphonse said. "Now good night!"
"You can't sleep!" Edward shrieked.
"Shut up!"
"There, your auto mail is finally finished." Winry said to Ed. After the long procedure Edward went to Al, clapped his hands together and reformed his fractured body, it was good as new.
"Got to make sure the seal isn't smudged. It's good to go, let's get this show on the road!" Ed smirked. "Soon you won't need this armor anymore, you'll be whole again."
"Uh yeah!" Alphonse sighed.
"Now I got to visit my mothers grave see ya!" Edward carried his flowers to the graveyard nearby. There was Trisha's headstone. "I'm sorry that you can't be with us. But I got the stone now, we're finally getting somewhere." Edward set the flowers in the vase next to the headstone. "Love ya mom." Edward smiled. He soon went on board the train with Alphonse and Armstrong. Saying goodbye to Pinako and Winry. And They arrived back at Central. Edward pulled out the philosopher's stone and accidentally dropped it. It shattered into a million pieces.
"No! Why!" Edward felt a surge of negative emotions, both foreboding, and furious. "Great, now we're back where we started, let's head to central command."
"Alright boys, you do that. I'm gonna catch a break." Armstrong said as he waltzed off into the distance.
"Why is he always so weird?" Edward asked.
"He's Armstrong, of course he's weird!" Alphonse laughed.
"It seems there's something going on with the fifth Laboratory. It's been years since it was last active, it's weird how it's up and running again." Havoc told Edward and Alphonse.
"We'll investigate this sir!" Edward said loudly.
"Good, no one else will. Now good luck. It's dangerous for kids."
I know it may be writ for Ed to steal the stone, but let's be real, if Al wasn't there to stop him he totally would. That's basically the point with the scene. Also I had to showcase the evilness of the stone somehow. Ciao!