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
"Hey, is everything alright with Winry?" Ivy nearly jumped when she felt Edward whispering in her ear.
"God, dude, what the hell?!" She shrieked in a whisper.
Edward's gold eyes flashed in light amusement. "Sorry." The blond didn't sound apologetic at all before he pointed to the front of them. Ahead where Alphonse led the way to the train station, Winry and Akasha were in tow. Ivy ignored the shudder that ran down her throat when she noticed green eyes on them like a hawk. "Seriously, though, is Winry alright? She's been acting weird since dinner yesterday."
"How am I supposed to know that answer?" Ivy grumbled back.
"You're always together 99% of the time, duh." Edward jeered. He raised an eyebrow, giving her a strange look. "You could have just said 'no'."
"I'm just surprised you're sensitive enough to know when a young maiden is off somehow." Ivy elbowed the blond to her right, lightly, mindful of his automail arm.
Edward elbowed her back roughly, Ivy was unable to hold back a laugh at his irritation. "Oh shut up!"
"What are you two laughing about back there?" Akasha called back, walking backwards towards them.
Ivy clenched a fist tightly, pushing down any feeling unease raising in her. It's only Akasha. Ivy reminded herself. It's just Akasha, alright Carter? It's literally just Akasha. Akasha with the billion fanfics she was probably going to never finish. Akasha with the gazillion anime reblogs on tumblr. "Edward was just secretly trying to ask me tips on how to grow taller and I told the guy that it's genetics, so sadly, he's screwed."
Ivy made quick work of dodging the metal and flesh hand that tried to find their way around her neck. "Alright, alright! Your automail is definitely lighter now so chill out, you'll get taller. Eventually."
"One of these days, Ivy, I'm gonna punch you to the moon!"
"Where's the fun in that though, Ed boy?" Ivy sang, clicking her tongue. "You'd just want me to come back in five minutes once Alphonse gets sad that I've disappeared. Right, Alphonse?" Ivy continued on before the tall boy could give an answer. "Right. I love it when I'm right."
"At least we know you're training in Rush Valley is never boring, huh, Winry?" Alphonse chuckled.
Fuck.
Ivy looked over to a smithshop they were passing by, suddenly more interested in the promotional sign boasting their new tempering of steel. It was going to be awkward enough trying to share a room with Winry in Central, she didn't consider how awkward it would also be when they came back to resume their training with Garfiel. It's fine, it's gonna be fine. Ivy bit the inside of her cheek. We'll get whatever stuff needs to be done in Central and be back to normal by the time we get back here and work on being just friends.
That seemed plausible by the time they got to the Rush Valley train station. There weren't too many people out waiting, what looked like a pair of traveling mechanics with a bunch of newly purchased tools and excited smiles on their face. Ivy envied their ignorant bliss, there was nothing awkward about their situation wherever those two would be headed.
Ivy sighed quietly and looked back at the train tracks.
Ivy just needed to think about something else. Anything else that wouldn't open old wounds. Then things would fall back into place.
"Where's Ling at, come to think of it?" Ivy blinked in realization when she noticed the prince wasn't around. Seriously, it's like whenever I'm around I only hear of the guy and never actually see him.
"Eh, he'll be here eventually." Akasha waved a hand nonchalantly as she approached closer. "Trust me, he always pops up right when you least expect it. Speaking from experience."
"We're literally about to board the train." Ivy replied incredulously. She knew plot convenience and hollywood happenstance were a thing, but this just seemed impossible.
"Just trust me." Akasha repeated, chill as ever. "Seriously though," Akasha whispered, eyeing Edward impatiently pacing for the Central train. "what were you and Ed talking about before?"
"Nothing important." Ivy reassured, ignoring the light pool of anxiety in her chest. "He only ever gets all weird when there's something wrong with his arm or he's in the mood to joke."
"No he doesn't." Akasha crossed her arms. "If he was gonna joke, he would just say it out loud. And it's not so much a joke as it is a roast."
"Akasha, maybe this is just an Edward factoid not even you know about so chill out." Ivy rolled her eyes, taking a seat on a bench a few paces away. The train couldn't come fast enough to take away the feeling of knowing Akasha was staring. Ivy just knew that if she mentioned Winry was the topic Edward had brought up, Akasha would have a fit and Ivy wasn't dealing with the aftermath.
After a moment, the brunette thankfully went elsewhere. Ivy wasn't sure whether or not it was a good thing she automatically went to chat with Edward, but at least she was away.
Alphonse and Winry were sitting a bench away, not talking amongst themselves. Ivy glanced over testily. It was no wonder Edward asked if Winry was alright when you could see the light puffiness of her eyes and the red tinging her lower lids.
A mixture of emotions swirled in Ivy's chest; part guilty, part 'you're an idiot, your crush actually likes you back'. Ivy shoved the latter half further down, packed away into the darkest crevices of her mind so it wouldn't resurface again. She was doing the right thing. Ivy sighed, looking at the ground. Her backpack felt heavier than usual and her shoes looked as worn as she felt emotionally.
Ivy couldn't stop herself from glancing in the blonde's direction again.
Then she felt nothing but panic and alarm bells when she glanced and saw blue eyes looking her way as well. Ivy looked away so fast her eyes nearly got whiplash.
Fuck my life.
Ivy tapped her right foot anxiously.
"Are you alright there?" Ivy felt like she had her third heart attack of the day when she noticed the flash of yellow and white beside her.
Of all the times for Ling to show up, it would be now.
"Sorry for the scare back there." Ling laughed lightly. "We're finally talking again!"
"At least this time it isn't because I found you collapsed somewhere." Ivy smiled politely. She didn't know how to read this guy. Who the hell smiles this much? And does he always smile like that? That long? That has got to hurt the guy's cheek bones at some point. Akasha might have said he was a good guy, but he was no friend of Ivy's yet even with that sort of knowledge. "I almost thought I just imagined the whole thing happened. Whenever I was out the goblin cave I call a work space, you were apparently around but I never saw you. Almost thought it was a whole ass prank."
Ling laughed, shaking his head. "No no, I've just been busy since I've arrived to this country. It was a tiresome journey getting here too, let me tell you."
"And you're from Xing, you said?" Ivy recalled the last conversation they actually had face-to-face. "That's crazy far, I'm honestly kinda impressed." At least I think I should be. "What's it like there?"
"Considering my position, you could say I don't actually live the average Xingese experience but Xing is a beautiful country." Ling's voice held fond nostalgia and pride, his closed eyes looking towards the train tracks. Despite them being closed, it still looked like Ling could perfectly see the sandstone formations before them. But it was clear that his mind was far off, far far away from the desert.
When was the last time she felt like that for Vallant? Ivy couldn't recall ever feeling the way Ling looked. What did that say about her?
"I got to pass through the Xingese countryside on my way to Amestris, it was wonderful seeing the rice paddies and farm where I get my food." Ling continued, grinning animatedly as he moved his hands. "There are elaborate mountain chains, beautiful rivers, lovely architecture, Xing has it all."
"It sounds like a beautiful place to be in." Ivy replied truthfully. If Xing really was based off China, she wasn't lying. She'd seen her fair amount of pictures of China when they covered it in World History class. And Liziqi's videos on youtube always hit the spot when Ivy was bored out of her mind and needed something to watch. "Well, I hope you get back and see it soon."
"Oh, I'll probably be here in Amestris for a while longer." Ling replied airly, body language loose and nonchalant. Whether or not Edward or Alphonse ever let it slip to the guy that she knew of his reasons for being here, she wouldn't ask. "I look forward to seeing the Amestrian capital. I've heard plenty from ambassadors in my country that it's very large and has plenty of historical buildings to visit."
"As long as you aren't planning to visit one of the national libraries, your trip will be well rewarded." Ivy grumbled, the First Library burning so far away now yet she still remembers the way her heart dropped to her stomach when she first arrived and saw her original salvation to get home destroyed. At least it had all worked out thanks to Sheska. Not that Ivy would be telling Ling about that. "But Central's a nice place. It's where I'm from. Akasha too." She made sure to keep both her feet firmly adhered to the ground as they continued their quiet talk. "Lots of people but the vibe is totally different from Rush Valley." She thought back to her short handful of weeks in the grand city.
It was a totally different vibe.
Central was curt and polite.
Rush Valley was a big city with a small city vibe where everyone acted like they knew each other. It was rare to go even a day without casual guests that were regulars or friendly engineers stopping by for a sit down and chat, Paninya usually found a way to visit daily. Everyone was nice enough to share tips to budding mechanics. It was easy as all hell to get scrap metal for free from the blacksmiths.
"You don't seem super excited to go back home." Ling's voice brought Ivy out of her comparisons. "I'm guessing that you're more fond of Rush Valley. It was a nice place, just too hot for my tastes."
Ivy shrugged, hoping she still looked chill. "You can say Central and I have a complicated history." She looked back out at the sandstone, trying to find familiar shapes of Vallant in it. There were none she could find. Very complicated history. "What's home at this point, anyway?" Ivy huffed quietly.
Home, home, home.
Her relationship with Vallant felt more complicated everyday.
"Hmm." Ling hummed, leaned forward resting his chin on one hand as he propped an elbow on one knee. "I've always been told by my mother's younger brother that home was wherever he laid his rump, he's always been a bit more frivolous." He held up a finger which was quickly joined by a second. "Fu told me home is the place in our hearts that remained no matter where we went." A third finger was raised. "But my mother said home is the people we are trying to protect."
Ivy blinked, glancing over at her seat companion seeing him open one eye thoughtfully as he stared at his hand. "When I was younger, I was a bit confused since I just thought that home was where all of my items and family happened to be. But now that I'm so far away from home, I think what Fu and my mother said are the most applicable to how I feel when I think about 'home'. When I think about what home is to me."
Ivy didn't respond immediately, Ling looked like he was deep in his thoughts.
Who are you trying to protect? Ivy wanted to ask.
Somehow, the words don't escape her mouth. They couldn't even if she wanted to.
Ling's home was private.
"I can respect that." Ivy said finally, clamping her hands together in her lap. "I can really respect that." It felt dumb and clumsy that that was her final word choice. But when Ling looked up at her, his one eye still open, she knew he understood what she meant.
"When it comes to you, which of those ideals feel the most true to you and your situation?" Ling inquired, his usual airy and light-hearted tone of voice no longer present. It hadn't been for a while. Both of his eyes were open now. "Where you happen to be in the moment, a place in your heart, or a person?"
Ivy clenched her hands tighter as her thoughts and emotions swirled a million hours per hour in her mind. "I'll have to get back to you on that." She whispered after what felt like hours.
Ivy was more than relieved when the train finally arrived, putting an end to their conversation. She stood up at the sound of the train's whistle. "But, for what it's worth," she looked back at what were now eyelids. "I wish you a lot of luck, man. You've got it figured and you're doing what it takes for what you care about."
Ivy didn't have to know Ling for that.
Ling smiled as he stood up, "I wish you luck in figuring it out." He said quietly enough for her to hear alone.
"What are you two whispering about?!" Edward called out, snapping Ivy out of whatever atmosphere she and the much taller boy were in. Gold eyes were glaring suspiciously at Ling from where he stood. "Is he trying to mooch a ticket off of you? Leave him where you found him and let's get on the train already."
"Oh don't worry, my dear friend!" Ling exclaimed, the mood entirely gone as he pulled out a ticket from his sleeve. "I already have a ticket!"
"How in the hell do you have enough money to buy a ticket for a train but not enough money to pay for your own food at a restaurant!?" Edward all but screeched like a demon.
Ah shit, here we go again. Ivy shook her head with a small smile. "Boys, boys, there's enough Ivy to go around."
"Who said anything about y-"
"Come on, Ling, let's get you on the train." Ivy chuckled, giving the boy light taps forward. "Edward, be nice, I know there's a spark of good somewhere in that ice box you call a heart."
"UGH!"
"He's nicer than he looks, pinky swear. Just sit next to me." Ivy reassured as they boarded. "We're cool, Ed'll come around eventually."
Probably.
Who knew.
Ivy just knew Ling was actually kinda cool.
Author's Note
Sorry AGAIN for the long wait for this chapter! This chapter isn't that long either but I still wanted to get this out, looking at the newest reviews this story got really pushed me forward. I'm not sure when I'll get back to posting consistently, but this story definitely isn't dead.
I just decided to take a break from writing all my projects for a while on here and on ao3. Mentally I just wasn't in a good place as this was doing the end of May during the tragic murder of George Floyd and a lot of pent up emotions just came flowing out and I was in no place to write anything. I'm trying to slowly get back into writing now. For me, writing is something I hold dear to me since for most situations, even if they are bad I can write as a distraction. And considering the state of the world as a whole, wherever you may be, I hope my fics offer you guys a bit of temporary solace from whatever is messing with you IRL.
Even if we never interact outside of me responding to comments on the story, y'all are really like a big welcome back hug. But enough with the IRL sappy stuff, let's talk about the fic sappy stuff. This chapter comes in hot after Winry's rejection and there's some awkward tension in the air to deal with. But in it, Ivy gets some sagely advice from Ling who has made an appearance proper finally. I really wanted to work on their next interaction with one another. Ling feels like that guy you are just vibing with one moment and it suddenly turns into a philosophical discussion that leaves you changed in some way, so I hope I conveyed that well.
Vendicor: Trust me, Akasha's delusions from here will be playing a major part in this story. In contrast to the original rendition of this story on my old account which was originally EdxIvy, surprisingly, and Akasha slowly falling for Ling, I wanted to do a fic one of those OC is from IRL goes to FMA fics with someone with that mentality that never seems to shift from These are still just fictional characters versus Oh no I am here now and actually falling for Ed, whatever shall I do? I hope you look forward to seeing what comes next because there is a lot!
5directionalpilot: Please don't apologize at all, your reviews made very happy! It doesn't need to be long, medium, short, I'm just happy there was someone who was happy reading my work and felt so happy they wanted to leave a comment! I'm happy you like that Ivy is black because honestly, it's super rare finding any story with a minority OC protagonist and I wanted to write something for the black nerds out there. I look forward to seeing more reviews from the future from you whenever you leave them ^o^.
Vedahzii: I'm so happy and honored that you liked the story enough to binge through it! There's definitely more to come between Ivy and Winry despite the awkward tension between the two of them right now and I hope you stay long enough to see it!
Livvy4243: I'm happy you like how I keep Ivy's thoughts grounded in realism as she struggles between her growing desire to stay but keeps in mind her entire life she's already lived in the real world! I wanted to really show her hesitance in comparison to an avid superfan like Akasha who is clearly more than happy to toss all that stuff behind. I'm also happy you like the vibe Ivy and Winry have going on. I've mentioned in other Author's Notes that the original pairing in the OG story was actually going to be Ed and Ivy and when I decided to do this rewrite/'actually finish this fic' project, I was like 'idk if that will still be a thing, we will see' but by the time I got to about chapter 3 or 4, I realized that Ivy and Winry had a lot of chemistry and changed it up to them being the official pairing for this fic. I wanted their relationship to be one that's, generally, simple and domestic since they are both characters that prefer communication to secrets and are open about being affectionate with each other. I hope you enjoy this chapter and interaction between Ivy and Ling!
Guest: Here is some moar for you, fam ^o^!
Sam: I'm happy you like this story enough do that and I hope you continue to follow the story to its inevitable end!
DarowdrynofArcadia: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) May this chapter add... a tiny bit of fuel. A treat.