AN: The characters and concepts of Fullmetal Alchemist belong to Hiromu Arakawa. This story revolves around the first anime of Fullmetal Alchemist, not the manga. Do not flame because of that small difference, I've read the manga and seen the real anime that follows it, but the first anime is what captured my heart about FMA, so this story is tribute. Enjoy the story. The lyrics are "Time That Remains" by Three Days Grace, I do not own the lyrics to the song. - Carrie
"Don't get me wrong, the mistakes I've made along the way,
Made me who I am today. The time is gonna come,
You will wake up and realize, just how fast your life goes by.
Because you can't unlive the pain, you can't rewind to yesterday.
You might never find your place, in the time that remains.
So if tomorrow never comes, from living fast and dying young,
I hope the best is yet to come, in the time that remains for you."
Upon reaching the Meat Shop, Izumi and the boy are nowhere to be found. While discussing where Izumi could have gone, Winry mentions that Yock Island would be isolated enough for their teacher to use during her human transmutation. The Elric brothers row the boat toward the island, Winry and Carlina in tow. "I still don't think you should be here," Carlina flexes the fingers on her right hand, staring at the automail. Winry shrugs, "Someone needs to keep you guys in line." Sighing, the pinkette concedes her friend won't stay in the boat. They hastily dock on shore before making their way through the trees. As the teenagers call for Izumi, Carlina stops. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps. Feeling as though someone is watching her, she looks around. The voices of her friends drift as she peers through the trees. "Is someone there," she swallows the lump in her throat.
Ed's voice pierces through the trees, jolting her out of her daze, "Get off her!" Carlina runs toward the sound of alchemy. Crashing through the tree branches, she stands next to Alphonse. Izumi lies on the ground coughing. Ed's automail is in a spike form, and he runs toward the forest boy. Carlina's eyes widen as she sees the new clothes the boy wears, an uneasy feeling in her stomach. "Don't touch him," Izumi speaks, causing Ed to stop, "leave him alone." "But we saw him! He was trying to kill you," Winry shifts on the other side of Al. Izumi pushes herself off the ground to her knees. She massages her throat as she speaks, "I brought him out here because I was planning on killing him. But I'm the one that deserves to die." The older Elric shifts, "What do you mean? Why?" A chill shoots down Carlina's spine, traveling through her body.
"Because, Ed, I created this child. I used the remains of my baby, and some other elements, attempting to perform a human transmutation….But what came back, well, you know what it was….don't you," Izumi looks up at Ed. Carlina's legs go weak, she grabs onto Al's arm to stay steady. "Something, not, not human," Ed's voice shakes, the girl averts her eyes to the ground. Izumi goes into detail about her experience summoning the Gate. As she speaks about the eyes on the other side, a hard knot forms in Carlina's stomach. Her own memories flood back to her. She sneaks a glance up at the boy standing behind Izumi, but his expression does not falter. Winry clears her throat before speaking, "So then, there's no way the child you had is the same boy that's here now." Pushing off from Al, Carlina takes a few steps forward. Ed's hand twitches slightly as she comes to a stop at his side.
Taking a moment, Izumi steadies herself on her feet. "When I looked at him I knew there wasn't any doubt. If the child back then had grown up, this is the age he would be. This homunculus appeared on Yock Island, the same place he was born. It's the only explanation. They're one and the same." Ed takes a step forward, "But that still doesn't make any sense. A homunculus is created from alchemy alone!" "Created," Al speaks for the first time since they entered the clearing. Carlina's fists clench, the place the new automail meets her hand aches. "Is that what you think? Do you know exactly how a homunculus is created, Edward," Izumi's eyes burn into her pupil.
Silence hangs for a second. Drops of sweat are visible on Ed's forehead. "Not exactly. But, but they're probably created just like chimeras, in some place like that Laboratory Five." Carlina's chest tightens at the mention of the laboratory. Her head spins, an ache spreads from her temples. Izumi starts to speak, but the boy's voice drowns her out. "You're wrong. Whether out of love, or foolish curiosity; human transmutations are attempted. And when these attempts all backfire, a different life is created. A being that has a body and mind, but no soul. That is how the damned are born; that is a homunculus," the boy's purple eyes flit up to stare at the group. Carlina focuses on her breathing, feeling like hands are gripping her ribcage.
Winry and Al gasp from the back of the group. "And how do you know about all this, who told you," Ed's voice brings some air back into Carlina's lungs. "Envy helped me remember where I'm from, and what I am." The more the child speaks, Carlina notices the points in his teeth seem more visible than before. A sound escapes Carlina's lips, her hands clutching the front of her shirt. "Envy? You've seen that monster," Ed's body tenses next to hers. Thoughts soar through her head faster than she can process them. "I have. Envy was born the exact same way. So were the other homunculi, all thanks to idiots like you who decided to play God. And now all we really want is to become human ourselves," the kid smirks. Carlina's blood runs cold. "There are, more like you," her voice comes out in breaths.
He ignores her question, raising his right arm toward the sky. "I remember, I can picture it all… The only thing I could do was sit and wait in the absolute darkness inside the gate. I just kept waiting and waiting. All the while, my body was slowly growing. One day, an idiot dropped by. He had already given his leg, and now, he stuck his arm across the threshold! He was screaming and crying 'give me back my little brother'! I took his limbs for myself," Ed's shoulders shake as the boy speaks. "Not long after, another idiot came by. I could've mistaken her for the first one. She was screaming, pounding on the door. 'You can't keep him from me, I need him'! So I took her arm when it was in reach," his grin widens as his gaze shifts to Carlina. Her grip on the front of her shirt tightens.
The boy's eyes roll back to the sky, "After a long time, I was able to open the gate with my newfound power. I finally came out of the darkness-" "-this can't be," Ed's voice sounds far away. "Thank you for the arm and leg. Thank you for my second arm. Thank you for this incomplete life," the boy's gaze shifts from Ed, to Carlina, to Izumi respectfully. "Nothing can match my gratitude, not even my hate. Now, give me your entire body! Once I have that, I'll be a real human," the boy crouches. He springs off the ground and points his feet together, launching down toward Ed and Carlina. Al shoves between them, deflecting the child. He staggers for a moment before straightening up, "Ow! That hurt. Your metal body's not the one I'm after!" Ed lies on the ground, the blade transmutation still on his automail. Carlina kneels on the other side of Al, one of her knees scraped from impact with the ground. "If none of you are going to do this, then I will," Al moves into a fighting stance. Carlina's head lets off a pulse of pain. She stares across the clearing at her arm on the boy's body. My arm. My actual arm. The price I paid for nothing. Her entire head pulses in pain and she grits her teeth. "Al, please, don't do it, he's-" "-I have to," Al interrupts Winry, "His arm and leg are my brother's. His other arm belongs to our friend. The things they lost, that Ed lost because of me. It's all my fault!" "No, Al," Ed stares up at his younger brother. "All this time, we've been trying to get our normal bodies back. Nothing's going to stop me now," Al lunges toward the boy.
A blur of white passes in front of Al, moving the boy out of harm's way. Izumi sits off to the side with the boy cradled against her chest. Carlina sways to her feet as Al calls out, "Teacher!" Blue light engulfs the woman and the boy as Ed rises to his feet. Her shirt begins unraveling off of her and she is thrown toward Winry. The white cloth from Izumi's shirt writhes like tentacles, connected to where Carlina's arm used to be. They shoot out toward Al, worming their way into the opening under the arm. Al screams and his arm jerks around. "Al," Ed rushes forward but Al's arm grabs him by the automail. Carlina stumbles toward the brothers, the world spinning around her. "That right arm of yours is such a nuisance. Your brother is going to help me crush it into pieces," the boy's pupils turn into slits as he speaks. The hand holding Ed's automail clenches and a crunching sound echoes through the clearing.
"Stop it," Carlina yells. The sound reverberates through her skull, sending her back to her knees. Her body shakes as she watches Al tear the fabric, breaking the hold the boy has on him. He rushes forward but stops in front of the boy. His back blocks the view of what is happening. "Brother, you said a homunculus couldn't do alchemy. This one is different and I think I know why," Al shifts slightly. Carlina sees the stone cracked beneath the leg the boy took from Ed. "He can transform his body into different materials; by forming a circle with his left leg and right arm. Because he's a homunculus, he can shapeshift his body. Even the arm that used to be Carlina's, when it isn't being used to conduct alchemy. But the real reason he can perform alchemy is," Al trails off. "Because he has Edward's arm and leg, and the arm from Carlina," Izumi's voice barely reaches where Carlina kneels. Her vision focuses back to the boy and Al. Now she can clearly see the stone spike coming from the arm that was once hers. The head of the stone spike is stuck into Al's hand. Al uses his free hand to grab the spike. He's blown back and Ed transmutes a spear from the ground.
Looking up, she sees the child gripping a spear identical to the once Ed transmuted in the child's hand. Winry cuts in and starts bickering with Al about the child. Their voices blend into the background as Lina focuses on the fight in front of her. The two exchange blows with neither gaining the upper hand. The child scrapes Ed's already injured cheek with his spearhead, as Ed's spearhead grazes where the child's arm meets his torso. "He belongs to Izumi," Winry's voice cuts through Carlina's thoughts. With a scream Ed tackles the child on to the ground. He sits on top of him with the automail blade stuck into the ground by the kid's head. The angle of the blade is down in a way that he could cut through the arm. Carlina starts to stumble her way toward them through the clearing. "So what exactly do you want, Edward," the child's voice sends shivers down her spine. "Only what's mine," Ed's arm with the blade trembles when he speaks. "This leg was a price you paid, you got something for it, didn't you," the child taunts, and Ed looks nauseous as he continues, "And in exchange for this arm here, you got your brother's soul."
The kid snaps his head toward Carlina and smirks at her, "You got something in exchange for this arm, didn't you?" Flashes of her brother's corpse squirming in the bathtub sends her to her knees a few feet away from the two boys. He turns up to smugly stare at Ed again, "Tell me, what price are you willing to pay now to get your limbs back, and deprive me of mine? Equivalence." Ed grits his teeth and raises his arm to stab downward, "Shut up." Winry's scream travels across the clearing, mixed with the sound of transmutation. Carlina's attention is drawn to Izumi's hands on the ground. The earth shakes and a large crack tears through the dirt. Ed barely avoids falling into the chasm, and Al helps pull him out. Carlina is on the opposite side of the split, stumbling to her feet as she stares at the teacher. "You two boys are not to get involved in this, I command you," she breathes heavily. The child stares at the open earth in front of him as she continues speaking, "the boy is my sin, and my weight alone to bear." The child springs to his feet and runs through the underbrush.
Carlina takes off running behind him immediately, hearing the voices behind her grow faint as she runs. After a few moments of running, she realizes she's lost sight of the child. She takes a moment and uses her automail arm to clear through some smaller trees. As she passes through, she sees three figures ahead of her. The green hair makes goosebumps appear on her skin. "You," she snarls at the figures, darting ahead. By the time she reaches the clearing she saw them in, the child is the only one left behind. She stands defensively and starts looking around, "You weren't alone." He shrugs and grins to confirm her suspicions. "And I'm still not. That's a bit above your paygrade for now, tiny alchemist. Just take a small nap and it'll all be over soon," his last words fade off as something hits her in the side of her head. She falls to the ground, her vision blurring in and out. Someone else scampers behind the kid and they leave her in the clearing. A few moments pass and she manages to drag herself into a sitting position. The brothers rush into the clearing, Ed helping her to her feet. "What happened to you," he examines the small wound on her head. She puts a hand to her forehead and sighs, "I'm not sure, it's hazy. I think the child?"
Izumi sits up in her bed with Sig sitting by her side. She tells the brothers that they can no longer study under her, since they also attempted human transmutation. Al tries to protest but Ed raises his hand to stop him. "We appreciate all you've taught us, please take care of yourself," he lowers his head as he speaks and his hands tremble. The teens pack their bags and walk out into the night. Sig follows behind them, the girls walking in front. Both Elrics lead the group. "Come on guys, this can't be the end. Are you sure you want to leave on bad terms like this," Winry breaks the silence. Cold seeps into Carlina's core as she thinks of her own teacher, terrified if he saw her in this state. No one speaks as they head to the train station. "Take care Sig," Ed speaks as they stand in a line, the train behind them. Sig faces the group, "Goodbye you two. Make sure to stop by the next time you're here." Al's voice filters through his armor, "But-" Through his hurt, Ed looks surprised, "I don't think we're exactly welcome." They flinch as Sig speaks, "Idiots. No that you're no longer Izumi's students, you're free to start a real relationship with her. As equals."
Both brothers look dumbfounded, turning as Winry speaks, "That's right. You don't have to feel constrained anymore, she can be your friend now." Ed's expression turns frustrated, he groans and rubs his head, "Ah, dammit. Al we can't leave yet." "Okay," Al sounds cheerful as they both run back toward the Curtis home. "Just watch your head," Sig calls after them. The girls run back with Sig in the lead. Outside, they sit against the wall with the window over their head. Mason kneels with them, the group trying to hear the conversation inside. A solid thud is heard, and peering into the window Carlina can see a knife sticking out of the wall by Ed's head. Winry hastily grabs her head and pushes it down, shaking her head. Are you crazy she mouths, making a throat slitting motion. They cup their ears and try to listen past the bickering. Her heart sinks when she hears them bargaining for knowledge of the Philosopher's Stone. "We're willing to bear your sins with you, so you can bear ours," Ed's voice carries outside the window. Silence hangs for a few moments before Izumi speaks, "Persistent brats..." Outside the window, the group looks at each other and grin. Winry squeezes Carlina's shoulders and the other girl tries to shake the feeling someone is watching them. She turns and thinks she sees someone at the corner of a nearby building, but when she rubs her eyes no one is there.
Within the bedroom, the other alchemists start discussing the Gate. Al continues talking about the principle of Equivalent Exchange. "You do a great job reciting it, but my son lost his life when he was born, and what did he get in return? Absolutely nothing, there was no equivalency," Izumi continues to stare at the brothers. They shift under her gaze, staring at the floor. "Apparently, I'm not much of a teacher after all. Mason," her voice barks and the young man by the window instinctively springs to his feet. "Yes," his voice cracks and he suddenly realizes he blew their cover. Izumi ignores it and continues, "Show them the way to Dante's house. They're making a trip there tomorrow, with their friend, to pick up my medicine. Enjoy the trip kids, it should be educational." Carlina turns up toward Sig for any sort of clue, but the large man's face doesn't betray any details to her.
Once they finish eating breakfast, the three alchemists depart for the house in the woods. Mason pointed the way out the night before and gives them clearer instructions before they leave. They start climbing a hill through trees and bushes. "I wonder what Dante's going to be like," Al and Carlina speak in unison, erupting into giggles and elbowing one another. Ed looks mildly annoyed, "According to Mason, she's a world renowned pharmacist." Once the two calm down, Al turns a bit toward his brother, "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you both. If it's true that a homunculus is created from failed human transmutation, then-" "Come on Al, pick up the pace," Ed walks quicker, hands balled in fists. Carlina tries not to think about where Al was going with his question. Finishing their trip in silence, they come to a large clearing with a stately mansion in the middle. The sight of the large building surrounded by trees sends a pang of homesickness into the girl's heart. "Hello, anybody home," Ed knocks and calls out. Carlina peers at the doors from between the brothers. The doors open and a young woman in a pink dress with an apron appears. Her dark hair is cut in a modest bob and she has a red headband. "Welcome, we've been expecting you. Dante's anxious to meet you all" her violet eyes twinkle.
Ed openly points at her with his mouth agape, and the woman also looks surprised to see the brothers. "I know you," he and Al both take a step back before saying her name in unison. The woman, Lyra, leads them inside and up the stairs. She explains how she turned her life around after fighting with the Elric brothers a few years ago. Lyra also tells them how Dante was kind enough to take her in and tutor her in the ways of alchemy. "Wait a minute, I didn't know Dante was an alchemist," Al questions as the group climbs the stairs. With her back to them, Carlina can still hear the smile in Lyra's voice, "the best." She gushes about having learned her lesson and honing her skills as an alchemist. Deadpan, Ed remarks, "Well you've sure done a 180." Lyra leads them to a door and knocks, an older voice inside saying, "It's open." As she opens the door, Carlina sees the old woman with the fuchsia shawl sitting at a table. When they enter the room, she closes the book she was reading. "The Elric brothers and their friend, the Joihanson girl have arrived," Lyra smiles and closes the door behind them.
"I've been waiting for you Edward and Alphonse Elric. As well as Miss Carlina Joihanson," the woman smiles and stands. "So you're Dante, are you," Ed asks, and Carlina observes the woman closer. Aside from her shawl, she wears a yellow blouse and a large red stone in the middle of the collar. The old woman turns, "That's right, and you two must be Ms. Izumi's great apprentices. I'm afraid I don't know much more than your name, dear." Dante shakes her head apologetically at Carlina. Ignoring the pit in her stomach, Carlina forces a smile, "It's no problem at all, ma'am. Our family was private." Dante nods and turns back to the brothers, "I've heard what's going on. Come with me and I'll make a fresh batch of medicine." She starts to walk to lead them out of the room. "I'm sorry, what's your relationship to Izumi," Ed stares blankly at her. "Simple, she was once my apprentice many many years ago, when I taught her alchemy," Dante starts to walk past them to the door they came in. "Oh, I didn't know that," Ed responds and moves out of her way. "So that mean you're our teacher's teacher," Al interjects, and Dante laughs lightly, "Yes, I suppose so."
She leads them out of the room, the door shutting behind Carlina. Ed leads them behind Dante, with Al in-between. They make their way out of the house. Outside, they bend down at one of the planters by the wall. Dante begins cutting some leaves off one of the plants. "Dante, if I may ask, what made you want to become an alchemist," Al stands above with his hands on his knees, watching her process. "A number of reasons. Maybe it's foolish, but the most important reason is I wanted to help people," she continues cutting away at the plants, "humans need alchemy more than they'll ever know. That doesn't mean alchemy is necessary for life, but it can provide valuable relief to those who need it. And I enjoy making people happy. Rewarding them for their hard efforts in life, providing a balance, if you will." Ed stares on in wonder as she collects the herbs. Carlina tries to memorize the shape of them, unsure if it would be helpful information for the future. "Equivalency," Ed says quietly, and Dante nods at him to respond, "That's right. We can only achieve happiness once we put forth an equal amount of work. No greater truth." The brothers look at each other and grin. Carlina puts a smile on her face but hangs back slightly, feeling out of place.
Sitting in the dining area of the kitchen, the teens are at a curved bench with a small table. Al sits between the two other alchemists. "Dante, what do you think about the Philosopher's Stone," Al asks, as they watch her work with her medicine. "Why, are you three looking for it," Dante turns back toward them. The Elrics glance at each other and Carlina keeps her gaze on the woman. "No, I was just curious," Al's voice gets quiet. Dante's eyes get a stern look to them, "Everyone who has gone looking for the stone, has found nothing but unhappiness in the end. I wonder if mankind truly is ready to possess such a powerful thing." The brothers look back at each other. "You really look like your father, Ed," Dante continues, causing them to stare at her again. Carlina averts her gaze to the floor instead. "I knew him very well, Hohenheim of light, he sought after the Philosopher's Stone as well," the old woman's words cause a sour look on Edward's face. He scowls and leaves, walking outside with the door shutting behind him. Carlina stares after him, and turns to see Alphonse looking at her. "What," she begins to ask but her question is cut short by Lyra's scream from the hallway.
Al pokes his head into the hall and calls the woman's name. Carlina squeezes under him to stand in the doorway, watching as the young woman collapses down the hall. When they turn, a man with a katana sits at the table. Another man with small glasses and a scar on his head holds a knife to Dante's throat, "Don't move. We have no intention of harming you, or the old lady, if you kids cooperate." Al stares at the scene, "Dante!" Turning back to the hall, a woman with tattoos on the right side of her face and arm walks toward the door. A large burly man with a giant silver mallet makes his way into the room as well. "Who are you guys," Al glances between the new group. Carlina steps back, pressing her back against Al's armor. "We're kidnappers," the woman walks around them as the massive man enters the room. "Who are you kidnapping," Carlina tries to keep her voice steady. "You, Alphonse Elric. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to come with us now," the man looms over the living suit of armor.
AN: It has been a while. Thanks to anyone still reading, it is appreciated. Life gets hectic but I'm going to do my best to try updating regularly! -Carrie.