Title: A Fangirl's Dream
Summary: Ivy has it rough. She's no anime fan or FMA fan. But when she somehow crosses the gate, she finds herself in the worst possible position: a protagonist of an Another World fic trope. And between the alchemy, automail, lack of plot knowledge, and struggling with her attraction to a pretty blonde mechanic, Ivy reluctantly teams up with the main characters in her journey to get home.
Pen Name: FanfictionIsMySideHustle

Ivy sat at her work station with a stretch. "Got Sammy's maintenance check done in a breeze!" She announced to the second mechanic in the room. "Now I can get back to work on Elizabetta 2.0." She sighed happily, picking up a screwdriver and more than ready to start where she last left off.

"Thanks again for doing that for me." Winry looked up from her work-in-progress with an appreciative smile.

Ivy didn't even bat an eyelash. "Don't worry about it, I know you've got a rush job so Ed's stuff takes priority over Elizabetta." Ivy replied with a thumbs up. Elizabetta 2.0 wasn't being made for any specific customer like Winry was doing so Ivy could drag herself from her work for a few moments. Equivalent exchange or something like that. "It's always fun giving maintenance checks."

Ivy grunted when she felt a sudden increase of work on her back. So much for working on Elizabetta 2.0 in peace and quiet. "What do you want, nerd?" She said without so much as looking back to see who it was. Even if she hadn't seen the long strands of brown hair dangling in front of her, she knew it had to be Akasha by sheer process of elimination. "I thought you were getting alchemy lessons from the golden boy?" Ivy said

"I was but he said that there was only so much he could show me without his arm and left to get something to eat." Akasha said, the disappointment in her tone almost palpable.

"You coulda always went with him, you know."

"Al said that he wanted to be alone." Came a defeated sigh.

"Oh poor baby." Ivy teased but she figured as much. Akasha could be pretty high maintenance even for her, let alone people that didn't know her that well. Not to mention the fact Akasha was likely running on fangirl energy seeing Edward in the flesh. I kinda don't blame the guy for lookin' for an exit. Akasha's high would go down eventually, at least. Ivy didn't know when, but eventually.

"So what are you doing now?" Akasha asked, sounding bored. "Are you going on break soon?"

Ivy carefully screwed in a bolt into what was the end of building the start hydraulics system. It was going just fine thus far, that weird energy from a couple days ago gone. "Right now I'm building the hydraulics system for the arm." She answered smoothly. "After that I'll be working around it to make the bicep and tricep areas and attaching the nerves. Then I have to finish up the rest of the hydraulics in the shoulder area. There's actually a pretty interesting system involving the construction of automail-"

Akasha started snoring obnoxiously and Ivy pinched the back of her hand for the briefest of seconds. "You're the one who asked." Ivy replied without sympathy. "Winry, over there, told me a great way to organize everything without the wires getting tangled every five seconds so things are a lot faster this time. I should be done just in time for when we head to Central."

Ivy ignored the way Akasha's arms tightened around her as Winry happily called out a 'you're welcome' from her worktable. Akasha would warm up to Winry in due time once she realized how stupidly petty she was being about the whole thing.

"Is Akasha…. your girlfriend?" Ivy's cheeks felt warm as she remembered the question Winry asked months ago. The look of, dare Ivy think it, relief she had on her face when Ivy said she had the wrong idea about them. She wasn't asking because she likes you or anything, weirdo. She reminded herself. She was just curious because you and Akasha are so close. She set down her pliers in exchange for tugging a red sleeve over the finished twining of wires.

"When are you gonna be finished for the day?" Akasha asked instead, not even noting anything Winry-related. "Are you going on break soon? You should go on break soon and get me something to eat."

Ivy coughed out a laugh, "if you don't get your broke ass to the kitchen and make yourself a sandwich."

"Interesting proposal." Akasha hummed, leaning against Ivy even harder. "But here's my counter offer. You make me the sandwich since you love me so much and caused me great pain these last few months."

"Nope, sympathy hour was the other day." Ivy clicked her tongue and kept working without fail. "You're obviously doin' better now, so I believe in your abilities to get out there and brave the wilds of the kitchen, young Linkle."

"Boo, you whore." Akasha groaned out a Mean Girls reference with pinpoint Regina George energy.

God, I missed you so much. Ivy was just about to snicker and make a rip about Akasha needing to shut up with her chest hair wig when she heard a loud clatter to her right. Brown eyes glanced over to the quick flash of blonde and beige standing up and saw Winry looking over to the two of them, her mouth agape. Her blue eyes suddenly flashed with anger and Ivy could spot the wrench in her shaking hand.

Ivy felt a flicker of realization. "Win-"

"Take it back." Winry all but growled and Ivy flinched at the tone.

"Excuse me, what?" Akasha sounded unphased, her tone dripping with annoyance. Ivy winced once more as the tensions rose in the room.

"Take back what you called her!" Winry shouted, looking even angrier. The blonde took a step forward, lifting her wrench throwing hand. "Take it back right now, or I'll-"

Ivy stood up immediately, Akasha losing her balance and letting go of her shoulders. "Winry, Winry, Winry, calm down!" Ivy yelped nervously, standing in front of Akasha clusmily. "It was just a joke! It's a really long story, but the 'whore' thing was a joke! I swear!"

Winry's face told Ivy immediately that she didn't believe that for a damn second. "It's a joke that your friend calls you a whore when you don't do something for her?!"

Akasha crossed her arms with a glare, green eyes flashing. "She literally just told you it was a joke." The brunette spat and Ivy wanted to melt into a puddle of misery. She wished she could be anywhere else right now. Akasha, you are not helping right now! "So why don't you lay off? I wouldn't ever seriously call her a whore."

"You shouldn't have said it in the first place!"

Ivy held up her hands in a placating manner, "Winry, look, it's fine." She said, hoping that that would be enough to get Winry to set her wrench down. "We just won't crack those kinds of jokes in front of you. So how 'bout we put the wrench down and-"

"So you're still going to let her say that kind of stuff to you!?" Winry's eyes teared up angrily.

Okay, that didn't work. Did not work at all. Ivy was so relieved when she heard the familiar clinking of Alphonse's armor heading their way. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?!"

"Al-"

"Ivy's friend is a jerk, that's what's wrong!" Winry snapped before Ivy could finish her sentence.

Ivy shot Alphonse a helpless look, "Akasha and I were jokin' around and she-"

"Called you something no one should ever be called and refuses to apologize!"

"If she said I didn't have to apologize, I don't have to apologize!" Akasha stepped from behind Ivy. "It isn't my fault that you got offended for no reason." Ivy shot Akasha a look to stand down but Akasha paid her no mind, glaring only at the blonde in the room.

"You called her a whore!"

"Jokingly!"

"She did what?!" Alphonse exclaimed in shock, red eyes whipping over to where Ivy and Akasha stood.

Ivy slapped a palm against her forehead and groaned, wishing to disappear. The feeling only increased when her mentor stumbled into the room with a worried look, "is everything okay back here?" The muscular man asked in concern. "I can hear you all the way outside. Winry, why are you crying?"

"I-it's nothing, Mr. Garfiel!" Ivy stammered out quickly. "Akasha just said some stuff about alchemy being better than automail and sparked a whole real passionate debate!" The man raised an eyebrow in disbelief and Ivy wanted to kick herself in the shin. No one would be dumb enough to believe that excuse. Not even Garfiel who was more observant than his flamboyant nature gave him credit for. "Right, guys?"

"Yeah, right." Akasha grumbled as her glare at Winry never faltered.

Winry only trembled silently, willpower keeping the tears from spilling over.

Garfiel's laser sharp gaze landed on Alphonse and Ivy shook her head as subtle as possible.

"Yeah… it was a debate about alchemy and automail."

"... Alright, then." Garfiel said at last, realizing he would be getting no other answer. "If you don't want to tell me what really happened, then I don't want to hear a peep of arguing the moment I go back to my customer." He said with narrowed eyes. "Girls, get back to work instead of antagonizing each other."

"Y-yes, sir." Ivy stammered as Winry just took a seat at her work table without saying anything. Akasha stormed off and Alphonse just stood there awkwardly.

Fuck my life. Ivy slumped down into her chair quietly, trying to ignore the sniffles that came from Winry's direction. Apparently things going smoothly for her was too much to ask. Maybe that Truth guy was getting a kick out of this too.

"So what's this I hear about you being called a whore?" Edward's rough voice came from behind Ivy.

Ivy groaned, tugging at her bandanna. "Look, don't you start too. It's been awkward enough already since everything went down." Akasha avoided the work room like the plague and Winry outright refused to talk to her, angrily working on Edward's arm until she finally left the room. "Who told you?"

"Al, obviously." Edward said with a 'duh' tone to his voice. "He told me everything."

"Of course he did." Ivy sighed.

"Look, Akasha's a great girl." Ivy started tiredly and faced Edward who stared back sternly with golden eyes. "We've been friends since we were, like, five. We joke like that with each other all the time, and basically everyone jokes like that back home if they're close enough. It ain't like it's all on her either. I make jokes like that with her too so don't gang up on her."

Edward looked unimpressed. "What kind of place are you living in if you guys will call even your own friends things like 'whore' as a joke?" It suddenly felt like Edward had become Ms. Norbury after Regina had revealed all the secrets of the Burn Book to North Shore High. Only with less comedic output.

Ivy sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look, I already told Winry we wouldn't make jokes like that in front of her and she still went ballistic."

"I mean, I would too." Edward said sharply. "You basically told her that you would just let people call you derogatory names still, just not in front of her. What would you do if I called you a whore?"

"Well how are you sayin' it in this hypothetical, Ed boy?" Ivy glared at the boy in front of her.

Edward ran his human hand through his bangs in frustration, "it isn't supposed to matter how I'm saying it!" Edward growled and Ivy stopped herself from rolling her eyes. It wouldn't get through to anyone here no matter what she said. "Fine, if it isn't gonna bother you if she says it, then what about Winry? Imagine how she feels."

"I already know how she feels about it." Ivy huffed. "She almost threw a wrench at Akasha's face at point-blank range." It was bad enough that Akasha hated Winry already just because of things out of the blonde girl's control but now things would definitely be on extremely thin ice between them. "I just want us to forget about it and pretend it never happened and just get along."

Edward released his own sigh, Ivy directed her gaze back at Elizabetta 2.0. "Look, I'm not gonna just stay here and police you on how to talk to your friend." He began and Ivy scoffed. He basically already did in his oh-so-failed example from just a few seconds ago. "But I think you at least owe it to Winry not to do it anymore. She probably didn't appreciate hearing who she knows is supposed to be your 'best friend in the whole universe' call you a whore, even if it was a joke. And it probably made her even more upset that you didn't get upset."

Ivy bit her lip but said nothing.

"And plus, the three of you are gonna share a room even when we get to Central, it's just gonna be awkward until you say something. So I say, get it out the way now before it gets worse." Edward said with a hint of finality before walking out of the room and Ivy just slumped her head on her work table. "Winry's in the kitchen if you wanna talk."

Why can't y'all just have the same sense of humor we do. She thought to herself as she forced herself onto her feet. Edward still had a point, though. It would only just get worse if she didn't say anything and let Winry silently keep it all in until wrenches started flying for real. So, the girl took off her bandanna and headed to the kitchen. If Winry was there, Ivy was sure Akasha was in the room they'd be sharing in an effort to keep the peace.

It'll be fine, it'll be fine. Everything will be fine. Ivy told herself as she walked slowly as possible to the kitchen area, peering in slowly to see Winry pouring herself a cup. "... Wanna pour another cup for your fave engineer?" Ivy asked, hoping she sounded more humorous than she felt. "'Cause, boy am I feeling parched."

Ivy was less than surprised when bloodshot eyes shot her a sparing glance coldly before looking away. No extra cup of tea was poured.

"Look," Ivy sighed. "can we just talk this out?"

"There's nothing to talk about." Winry replied curtly. "It was just a simple debate about alchemy versus automail, remember?"

"Winry, please."

"I just don't see why you're taking her side about it." Winry mumbled after a loud minute of silence passed. "Friend or not, she shouldn't be allowed to talk to you like that."

Ivy took a slight step forward, warily eyeing Winry's pockets for any sign of a wrench. "I've made those sorts of jokes with Akasha before too, you know. You've just never caught me making them. It's just how we joke."

"Why then?"

"... I don't know." Ivy answered truthfully. It was just the culture of memes and the quotability of nostalgia that Winry wouldn't be able to understand even if Ivy tried explaining in full detail. Which would take even longer considering Ivy would have to start from the beginning with the fact she isn't from this world versus her original story. "It just slips out. We know we don't really mean nothin' by it. And it's funny."

"Well I didn't think it was funny hearing what she said about you." Winry snapped quietly without turning around. "And she didn't even… she didn't even say sorry and acted like it was my fault that I got mad. I wish she had said that she thought automail was lame. That would have been an actual fun thing to argue about. Both of you shouldn't think it's funny to talk like that about your friends. Do you ever think that about me when I don't do certain things?"

"Of course not!" Ivy gasped, offended. "I'd never-"

"See?! That's my point!" Winry exclaimed, blue eyes flaring. "It isn't funny at all!"

Ivy faltered when she saw the girl's face. Say what you will about whenever she fought with Akasha, but Akasha was never an angry crier. And Ivy never had a crush on Akasha either. That fact made things a lot easier when they got into it. "... Look, I'm really sorry." She said, feeling defeated. "I'll talk to Akasha about it and it won't happen again, alright? I don't like it when I make you upset."

Winry wiped at her eyes, "I don't like fighting with you either." She said softly.

"Wanna call a truce?" Ivy held open her arms widely, putting the offer on the table.

"Truce." Winry smiled weakly before walking over to give Ivy a tight hug. "I'm sorry too. I don't want to make it awkward between anyone."

"Hey, Akasha and I didn't really make it easier with our senses of humor so we can all take the blame." Ivy said into Winry's hair, rocking them side to side. Not that Akasha will wanna take the blame right now, but we'll work it out. "Akasha's real nice when you get to know her. Minus the thing about her thinking automail isn't better than alchemy. Pretty sad that we won't be able to convert her to the cool side with the mechanics."

Winry hummed into Ivy's shoulder. "Ed and Al can keep her. We can just open a shop our own shop. Carterbell Automail, the finest automail this side of Rush Valley."

Ivy barely stopped herself from choking. "Carterbell?"

Winry pulled away slightly, looking sheepish and the rocking stopped. "I didn't know what else to come up with for the name. 'Rockbell and Carter Automail' was too long and 'Ivy and Winry's Automail' sounded too cutesy and kiddy." The blonde explained, sounding defensive. "So I thought combining our names for a shop would be a lot cuter but also practical."

"How long has that thought been flying around in that noggin of yours?" Ivy raised an eyebrow, face warm. This seemed too similar to her imaginings surrounding her and Winry having a more domestic life together. "Do I get a say in this? Maybe I want my own shop."

"Of course, we don't have too." Winry added quickly. "You can have your own shop. I just thought it would be nice to have a shop together since we're always working together here anyway." From here, it really would be a smooth transition into owning a shop together once they saved up enough money for it. Which was relatively easy with the market price of automail and the percentage they could keep from sales with Garfiel. They could both hone their skills and once enough sens were acquired, they could go just about anywhere.

It sounded so...

"You make it sound so easy." Ivy chuckled humorlessly. Like she could honestly drop everything about moving home and stay in Amestris forever and do just that. They could open this theoretical shop anywhere in the valley and any customers gained here could flock to their new location. There'd be ample business year round and they could see Paninya whenever, she'd visit any time whether it be to hang out or do some handywork. During the Amestrian holidays they could close and go visit Pinako in the east and give her updates about life in the automail hub of the country. Then they could fret over Edward and Alphonse who might have their bodies back by then, rarely visiting due to the older Elric no longer needing maintenance checks.

Just one choice and that could be Ivy's future.

Winry's smile was soft, an eyebrow of her own raised. "Why shouldn't it be?" She asked like it was so simple. Which it was to her. Winry knew nothing about Ivy's otherworldly origins and that made everything a simple decision for her. "You're picking up engineering fast so I know that your second arm is going to sell here when you finish building it. Then in a few years, we could have our own shop. Ed might still need maintenance by then so we'll definitely have to make a better appointment system so he doesn't cause any chaos when he does come see us." Winry chuckled lightly, eyes warm. "Well, even if we did do that, Ed would still find a way to make everything hectic. So maybe dealing with him will be less simple than everything else. Opening a shop together will come with the occasional visit from the boys." Chaos following was implied.

Ivy's throat constricted and she wasn't sure what else to say. She didn't know what she wanted to say.

"I just know if I open a shop, I want you there too." Winry's voice softened, hands tightening their grip around Ivy's arms. "And if you want me there too, that's all the reason we need to open one together."

"Why?" Ivy asked dumbly. Her blood roared in her ears as she looked at the shorter mechanic and her chest ached. You should be saying 'no'! Her mind screamed at her but she still wanted to hear Winry's answer. She needed to hear her answer. "Why together?"

"What's wrong with me wanting to open a shop with someone I really-" Winry cut herself off and Ivy swore that her cheeks looked pink. "Someone I really-"

"Am I interrupting here?" A voice drawled from behind them and Ivy froze when she turned around to see Akasha leaning against the frame of the kitchen entrance, green eyes staring hard.

Ivy leaped away flustered, "h-hey, Akasha! I was just 'bout to go lookin' for ya!" She cleared her throat, refusing to look in Winry's direction.

Green eyes looked between Ivy and the other mechanic in the room. "Really?"

"Yep." Ivy laughed nervously. "I was thinking we should all apologize to each other and just move on from this. We're gonna be sharin' a room here and probably when we get to the hotel in Central." Brown hands moved in a flustered motion as Ivy explained, hoping to get the nervous energy flying out of her system. That was close. That was too, too close! "So we should all definitely be on really good terms, you know?"

"You mean she isn't gonna throw a wrench at me?" Akasha glowered.

Beside her, Winry tensed but after a moment, she bowed politely. "I'm really sorry about earlier." Winry's apology sounded reluctant, but it was something. "We should start over again, I know you're someone who means a lot to Ivy."

"I forgive you then." Akasha said cheerily and Winry stood up properly, looking relieved. "Ivy and I have been friends for a long time so we kinda have a natural understanding with each other that's basically telepathic." Akasha smiled widely. "So I get if it takes you a while to catch up with all our inside jokes and stuff, so my bad too. I should have been more clear and open earlier."

Winry stared blankly at the brunette in front of her. "I… okay."

"Glad we all made up then!" Akasha beamed.

"Yeah, it's great." Ivy coughed still reeling. "Anyway, I'm gonna go shower. Akasha, don't touch my work stuff."

"I wasn't gonna touch it in the first place!" Akasha called after her as Ivy paced to her room.

If Akasha hadn't interrupted, Ivy was sure she would have done something stupid. Something really stupid that she wouldn't have been able to take back if she let Winry finish talking.

She already knew what the answer would be, Ivy was pretty sure she always knew from the soft smiles to the subtle brushes.

Which is why I can't hear it.

If she did, Ivy was sure any resolve she had left in going back home would be crushed completely. It wasn't as simple as just moving changing realms at the drop of a hat and opening a shop together, not even when the idea itself was so tempting.

You don't belong here and Akasha doesn't either. Ivy reminded herself harshly. If you're going to stay here and work, then stay and work.

What Winry was going to say was off limits.

This was all off limits.

That was all fact reminded herself again in her shower until she was almost dizzy from the steam, pulling her jumpsuit on once again.

"What was the point of a shower when you're just gonna get back in the jumpsuit?" Akasha asked when Ivy came back into her shared room.

"Fresh underwear, my friend, fresh underwear." Ivy waved the girl off, happy the tense atmosphere between them was gone. "Why are you here instead of pestering your wannabe boyfriend?"

Akasha huffed, falling back into Ivy's pillow. "He just told me not to talk like that with you or Winry again before walking off." The brunette grumbled darkly. "He hates me."

Ivy felt a stab of empathy. Regardless of the onesided feelings involved, if you got the chance to meet your fictional idol and you managed to piss them off, that has to smart. "It's gonna be fine, dude, we all made up." Ivy said, giving Akasha's knee a firm pat. "And Ed's not the type to hold this kinda thing over your head since it's so small, like his height."

"Are you the resident Ed expert?"

"Not at all." Ivy clicked her tongue, remembering the complex alchemy terms he tried teaching her when they first headed to Central. "I can't dissect that brain for anything. Blah blah reconstruction, blah blah hand clap."

The look Akasha gave her was enough for Ivy to know the smug 'you should have watched the show' implications. "He is a genius."

"I'm gonna ignore the shade I heard in your statement and ask if you wanna just talk with the guys and not mope around." Ivy deadpanned.

Akasha's response was to give a noncommittal grunt.

Ivy stood up with a sigh, grabbing one of Akasha's hands. "Come on, let's get up."

"Someone's been working out." Akasha grumbled, standing reluctantly. "Are you going for a Gerudo, Champion Urbosa?"

Ivy got a flash of the beautiful red-haired, brown skinned woman from Breath of the Wild. Her tall and strong physique, bearing the six pack that every Gerudo woman seemed to have. Damn. "You know, I was actually going for an Armstrong so I feel kinda embarrassed that Urbosa wasn't on the table." It made more sense, in a way. Ivy quite literally lived in an Amestrian desert.

Akasha choked instantly. "Oh god!"

"Can it, I changed my mind! I'm goin' for a Gerudo!"

Akasha's cackles didn't stop for a long time, still chuckling lightly as she followed Ivy's pacing out the room. "That was great, I really needed that." The green-eyed girl sighed dramatically. "Are those muscles passed down the Armstrong family for generations too?"

"You already told Akasha about the Major?" Edward's voice cut in from the kitchen. Due to the size of the shop, the kitchen room honestly served as a kitchen and living room combo.

"Yeah and she's laughing at me trying to imagine what he looks like." Ivy rolled her eyes. "Did Mr. Garfiel say what we're having for dinner because we can just reheat the leftovers."

"I think that's the plan." Alphonse replied, red eyes bright. He looked at Ivy then Akasha.

Ivy gave him a small smile. "Gotcha. Sounds like a 'every man for himself' night. Sorry 'bout that, it's all the orders." The moment it was hectic with rush orders, proper meals went out the window. There were always plenty of leftovers for these sorts of occasions, though. "I'm probably gonna make myself a sandwich later, but you can hear some more Harry Potter now while Akasha makes herself something."

Akasha shot Ivy a wide look that she ignored, "I got to the part where Hagrid and Harry were just getting to Gringotts."

"What are you doing?" Akasha hissed quietly.

"I still have to work on my arm." Ivy set her hands on her hips. "I don't wanna leave uncompleted work, so I'm trying to finish up Elizabetta 2.0 now." That would require some sleepless nights and actually working on her. "So you can just pick up where I left off last, it kinda fell to the wayside with all the stuff going on here." Ivy gave Akasha a small push into the kitchen. "Have fun, kids." Ivy finished, almost skipping away as Akasha awkwardly fumbled for more detail about where they last left off in this retelling of Harry Potter.

She did her best to ignore the dread in her chest as she got closer to the work room. Then Ivy felt relieved when she spotted Garfiel hunched over his own desk, the perfect buffer.

"Which order are you on now, Teach?" Ivy asked, pointedly not looking in Winry's direction as she peered over her mentor's shoulder. He was in the middle of making a fine foot, gently crafting the metatarsals.

"No. 2B." He answered. "I'm getting the small orders out of the way now and moving onto the big ones." He lifted a perfectly plucked eyebrow at her. "You'll have to make sure you finish your work before you go." Garfiel lifted a gloved hand, raising a finger per task listed off. "Phil will be coming to have his elbow checked because it's been feeling loose. Charlie, the poor girl has been neglecting her maintenance. A bit of restocking will be necessary before you go too."

"Don't worry, Mr. Garfiel, we'll get it done." Winry reassured and Ivy felt a lump in her throat.

"Yeah." Ivy strangled out as normally as she could. "Everything will be fine."

Garfiel smiled with a nod. "I'm expecting it from my darling apprentices." With that, he turned back to his project. "We'll be doing some all nighters to catch up, but we should be fine."

Ivy took that as her cue to sit at her own work area, looking behind her to see Elizabetta 2.0 glinting with loneliness. Time to work. Grabbing her gloves, Ivy sat down and gave her work in progress a once over. Compared to Elizabetta 1.0, this arm really was a lot more slim. The hand certainly looked better, the fingers more even and symmetrical. It took Ivy forever to find a good design for the plating for the crafted lines that were making sure the arm never overheated. It also helped with drying.

A smile crept onto Ivy's lips.

Maybe she wasn't just getting empty praise before.

"I know that smile." Winry's warm voice piped up and Ivy looked over, almost on instinct to her companion. "That's the happy engineer's smile."

"I'm just happy that she's turning out fine." Ivy replied. There was a tinge of anxiety in her chest, but she could ignore it. "I'll probably have to look over it again with a fine tooth comb when we come back before I let anyone test it out and let me know how it feels, and then maybe she'll sell." At least, she will if the temporary outfittee gives back positive feedback in terms of weight. There was also Garfiel's thumb of approval to gain.

Ivy didn't want to plague herself with the 'what ifs'. Things would be fine and then she could move on to learning how to make legs.

"Of course she will! We have a great teacher."

"That's right!" Garfiel chirped, raising a screwdriver triumphantly.

"Damn straight." Ivy grinned. She heard a sudden rumble of laughter and groans from the kitchen. "Looks like Akasha and the boys are having fun." I wonder if they got to the part where they met Ron. Or Draco. Ivy snickered to herself. She couldn't wait for Edward and Alphonse to get to the polyjuice potion bit. 'I didn't know you could read' was the best bit of improv Ivy had ever witnessed.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Books." Ivy answered with a pleased sigh. "Akasha and I are telling Ed and Al about this book series we really like. When we're on the train we'll have to give you the rundown." Winry would be… Ravenclaw. Definitely Ravenclaw. "It's this series about magic and witches and stuff and this kid named Harry Potter. Akasha and I are into some fun things." Ivy chuckled fondly.

Winry hummed noncommittally and silence fell among the three engineers once more.

Author's Note

Ooooh chapter 19, this was a fun ride.

Akasha is in the house and she and Winry are not off to the best of starts. What can one expect from a girl who has spent her entire FMA fangirl career disliking the character. Ivy's just in a whirl of emotions with everything going on and her attempt to not ruin any pre-established character relationships. And Akasha well, she's definitely not doing anything wrong.

This chapter has been well-anticipated as a chapter I never got to in even the og incarnation of AFD 'cause even then I planned on Ivy and Winry having a friendlier relationship (even though Ivy would be doing alchemy) and Akasha not liking our fav blonde mechanic due to Ed fangirl thing. I never knew how I was going to handle that then but I definitely wanted heads to butt.

Definitely let me know in reviews if you think that some feathers were definitely ruffled. I felt like this chapter was deserved since I feel like the humor we all have nowadays with friends irl and online is definitely a lot more vulgar and 'insulting' than say, the early 1900s and I was pretty sure if a FMA character experienced it themselves, they'd take it much more seriously. I'm also curious as to what you think about Akasha and her approach to living in the land of equivalent exchange compared to what Ivy's been doing, I wanted to take a dramatically different approach to both their stories. When I'm done with AFD, I'll start focusing on Akasha's story so you can see her POV.

I'm really excited for it.

Also really excited to see whatever reviews you guys leave for this chap, I really wanna know them thoughts and first reactions!

Anonimus anonima: And I'm happy this fic makes you happy! Thank you for the comment!