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

I'm not entirely sure who this Truth person is, but he has shitty sense of humor. Paninya you jinxed me.

Ivy stared blankly at the door that had led her into Amestris, the memories reeling in quickly. After everything that had transpired in her time in Amestris, it almost felt like forever ago she had walked into Resembool believing it to be part of Vallant's farming communities. Then she walked herself right up the stairs of the Rockbell home thinking she could at least call her mom to let her know she'd be late before everything completely blew up in her face that she was no longer home and nor did she have her original access to it.

The one time she switched up her usual routine and she was flung into a world of automail and alchemy and blond prodigies, told by some white thing it just wanted to see what would happen if multiverse theory rained on the parade of someone's day. Her gate had been closed firmly shut then, Ivy noted looking over the stone walls. Now it was open, just enough that she'd be able to walk through it and go back from whence she came. Ivy leaned her head to try and see if there was any light on the other side, but couldn't tell. Still her feet stayed firmly where she stood, not daring to get any closer lest she trigger something she couldn't change or take back. Am I not entertaining enough for you to keep here anymore? She wished the Truth was here to ask that directly. Or do you feel bad now that I've lost my arm?

Considering how this thing took the bodies of an 11 and 10 year old without hesitation, Ivy suspected it was the former. Either way, this was it. What she spent her first month in Amestris looking for rigorously among the rolling, sheep covered hills. Prime and here for the taking.

"Like, if some magician just showed up today with some magical portal and said 'if you walk through this, you'll go back to your hometown but you can never make automail or see Winry or Ed and Al again', would you walk through it?"

Thanks again, Paninya.

The girl truly had spoke it into existence.

"I'm really sorry, Winry." Ivy took a tentative step forward before finally enveloping the shorter girl into a hug. "I can go back to Rush Valley and work, but the moment Ed and Al say there's a way to get me back to Vallant, I have to take it. It could be a few months from now or a few years but… I have to choose that. I have to."

"Choose me." Winry might as well have said. "This could be your home too!" The blonde had said.

It was like the universe was taunting her, daring her to make good on her word after everything she had done and said. It was time to go home to Vallant where everything made sense. Her stump seemed a bit more apparent and obvious to her. She couldn't play volleyball anymore, there would be no automail to craft and showcase to the world to advance the world of prosthetics. Paninya wouldn't come over at random times for tea and to complain in an automail shop when the mechanics in it talked too much about automail. No more griping from Mr. Dominic about how many visitors he was getting but immediately showing off any baby pictures of his grandsom that he had taken recently. I'll never see them again.

She'd never see Edward and Alphonse get their bodies back. She wouldn't be able to tell Ling her answer about homes. There'd never be a time she'd hold Winry's hand again, talking excitedly about the differences in automail technology from region to region. The only way she'd see any of them would be through a TV screen looking at them as animated characters on a screen instead of people she'd met and grown to love.

When Ivy left Atelier Garfiel quietly without being noticed to head to Central, she hadn't been sure what she'd been thinking or what she thought would happen by doing it. She didn't let Winry know she'd be leaving, didn't even have any semblance of a goodbye. None of this was time for her to say goodbye to Amestris and the country she'd grown attached to living in the past several months. I can't just- but she cut herself off knowing that she could. It was actually probably for the best. No emotions or tears to hold her back, she could just walk through and deal with the aftermath of her sudden arrival home the best that she could. Make up a story about how she didn't remember everything that happened but she got out the best way she could.

I could do that. I could do that. Ivy repeated to herself like a mantra in preparation to step forward and bid Amestris a long awaited farewell. And yet her feet stayed planted to where she stood, making no efforts to move. Ivy chuckled, talk about being the biggest hypocrite in the world. You asked for this and now that it's here, you got cold feet. Ivy looked hard at the gate again, taking in its unique carvings and the darkness that would lead her away, presumably to Reese Park. But, Ivy sighed in realization. if I really wanted to leave Amestris so badly, I would've walked through it by now.

"Hey." Ivy spoke aloud quietly but firmly. Her stillness had been a bigger answer than any of her big talk had been in Amestris. "Truth or whatever you call yourself, take the door back. I don't need it."

Are you sure? A voice asked, not too much like her own. You could be losing your chance to go home forever.

This is just like Ben said. Ivy recalled her favorite book from home. It was a paperback and the cover was just about ready to fall off from how often she had read it in the past. This was going to be it for her. There weren't going to be anymore offers, no free rides, and there wouldn't be a second invitation to the ball. If she wanted to go back to Vallant, this was the only chance she'd be getting.

Ivy thought of early mornings Sundays with her mother, grumbling as she was woken up to sound of loud music and vacuuming. It was just like a mom. They never notice how quiet you try to be when they sleep and do the exact opposite when the shoe is on the other foot.

Doing shitty choreography at the school pep rally with her teammates. Ms. Quimby taking them out to get pizza whether they lost or won a game.

Passing notes with Noelle Lowes in Creative Writing. Talking shit with Tameka Thomas who clowned her for playing a white sport instead of joining the girl's basketball team.

Sleepovers at Akasha's and bingewatching Avatar with the twins until they all fell asleep.

Ivy thought of early mornings in Resembool, Winry tiredly leaning over the table after an all-nighter with Den resting her head on her lap. Tiredly but happily explaining how she was planning a project of refining the pulley systems of her automail by adjusting its placement in the limbs.

Sitting with Alphonse under a starry sky free of light pollution after the heaviest storm of her life and helping to deliver an actual baby.

Edward looking ready to punt her into space as they broke into teasing banter and stupid one-liners.

Ling asking her what she thought home was.

"Yeah," Ivy nodded, mostly to herself, small smiling turning into something longer and more assured. "yeah, I'm sure. I don't need it."

Even if you think that Hughes person will have died in vain if you don't do it?

"Mr. Hughes said he'd help me get home. I figured out where home is now." With that Ivy, turned around and head out of the bathroom without a second thought, letting the bathroom door close quietly. She wondered briefly if her gate would still be there if she creaked the door open, just to take a peek. But she shook her head and began walking to where she saw Paninya last.

"Over here!" Paninya called out, waving both of her arms.

"Aaay, you found some seats!" Goodbye, Vallant. I'll miss you. The mixture of melancholy paired with satisfaction punched Ivy in the gut softly like she was saying goodbye to an old friend. In a way she was. Vallant would always be in her heart somewhere as the first home she'd known. But Vallant, Akasha, California in general. She was letting that go. I'll miss you. Take care of Mom for me. And let her know somehow that I'm alright. But I found where I actually wanna be now.

Don't come to regret anything now, interdimensional traveler.

I'm not.

"Winry is gonna smite me. I took off from the back when she and Mr. Garfiel were busy."

Paninya patted Ivy's back with a guffaw, "oh come on, it isn't that late!" The late afternoon sun made the sky burn orange and violet and the typical bustle of Rush Valley had a dip in it. "Just say that you needed fresh air or something and she'll let it go." Ivy squinted at Paninya with disbelief as her friend's smile turned into something more mischievous. "But if she gives off 'death cometh by metal' energy when you get there, don't drop my name into the conversation. It isn't like we both need to take the fall."

"Wow, how shocking. Such friendship." Ivy grumbled sarcastically.

"I aim to make sure all my friends feel the touch of my love and dedication, you know?" Paninya sighed pleasantly, laughter subsiding. She pointed off east, her movement pausing. "Well I'm heading to Mr. Dominic's before it gets too dark and the carriages stop running. See you tomorrow if you're still alive by then!"

"Get back safe." Ivy waved her friend off. "I had a will written in advance before I left the shop and I die, you get nothing." One last quip and the two of the girls went their separate ways officially to their respective homes. The return back to Atelier Garfiel was a stark contrast to how she felt leaving it; stomach churning anxiously and like she was carrying something unpleasant on her back. Now she felt light and her strides felt like they had more direction. She glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the train station with a wave of melancholy and satisfaction.

There was no regret or inner voices telling her she'd made a dumb mistake, not even a voice saying she'd run with her tail between her legs to convince Akasha that this place had no place for them. I think after everything with Scar and whatever Ed might've told her when we were finally coming back to the valley that she's been doing a lot of stuff wrong. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking at this point. Ivy honestly couldn't discern which option was more correct for Akasha's character she'd displayed since they reunited. She wasn't even sure what she thought would happen if she had made it to Central and knocked on Akasha's hotel door to ask her to talk. God she was such a mess. Ivy continued her light steps to Atelier Garfiel.

Either way, they both were making their own decisions and this one was hers. If their paths ever converged again in the future, maybe they'd talk or have a mutual understanding or respect for each other. But at least she knew she didn't have to go out of her way to make it happened. Thanks Paninya. The gratitude was more genuine than sarcastic this time around.

Atelier Garfiel's logo looked like the pearly gates to heaven when Ivy finally saw it in the distance, a pep in her step. "Heyo!" She announced when she was in front of its open doors. Just in time for closing. Her guestimate correct as there were only three customers in the shop, on their way out as her mentor and Winry were putting away their tools for the day.

Surprise followed by concerned anger sparked in Winry's eyes. "Where on earth were you? I was worried sick!" The blonde placed her hands on her hips as she paced forward accusingly. Ivy had to hold back a snort of amusement. Winry was a textbook mom friend through and through. But apparently she failed in hiding how she felt because Winry pointed a finger at her. "Don't just laugh!"

"I was just on a walk to get some fresh air, worrywart." Ivy took a page from Paninya's book of suggestions with everyone there. "You guys were busy so I didn't want to interrupt."

Mr. Garfiel nodded, accepting the answer with ease. "See, Winry?" The man said reassuringly. "I told you that was probably what it was. She hasn't been out for her jogs as of late so she was probably just making up for lost time."

Winry's finger of rage fell down to her hip once more, "well she could've at least left a note so I wouldn't have had a heart attack at lunch."

Ivy smiled apologetically, "sorry about that, I will next time."

"And somewhere obvious too so I can see it immediately." Winry insisted and Ivy gave her a nod, Winry sighing in exasperation as she pulled off her bandanna, bangs a bit sticky with sweat against her forehead. Even with oil stains and sweat, Ivy was sure Winry was the prettiest girl in existence. "You, Ed, and Al need to find a new hobby besides worrying me, it's ridiculous at this point. Alri-

"Hey, go on a walk with me?" Ivy tugged on Winry's hand before she could walk away entirely. "Like right now?"

Winry looked at her, perplexed. "But you just got back from one."

"I need to talk to you about something, it's important."

Winry hesitated a moment before looking at the shop, "I need to put this stuff up first."

"I can help." Ivy didn't want the opportunity to fly by. Winry needed to be told everything tonight, she owed her that much after the emotional rollercoaster they'd be on in Central.

Mr. Garfiel hummed loudly with a gleeful look on his face. "An important talk, you say?" Ivy pointedly looked at the nuts and bolts she was placing into a toolbox at whatever sort of knowing look the man was giving her. "Good luck, dear." Her mentor whispered to her when Winry had left to place a crate in their more private crafting space. "I'm sure she'll accept wholeheartedly."

"Mr. Garfiel!" Just how obvious had she been before?

Yet the embarrassment subsided as they cleaned on before she and Winry finally parted ways from the shop, promising not to stay out too late. "What did you want to talk about?" Winry asked quietly, looking at their feet as they walked.

"I wanna wait until there's less people."

"I was gonna go to see Akasha today." Ivy said all at once, not wanting to let herself hesitate or try pushing this conversation back. She wanted to tell Winry everything, feeling the burning sensation of shocked blue eyes staring at her in shock. She looked down at the blonde, confirming the sight as Winry gawked at her in disbelief. "I got on a train to Central earlier today but I changed my mind and got off at Lomeind to come back here."

Winry knocked herself out of her stupor, aghast. "Why on earth would you do that?!"

"Paninya knocked some sense into me though." Ivy continued as seamlessly as she could. She'd rehearsed this mentally on the train as best as she could but not even that could prepare her for the moment she'd actually say everything. "It's been hard for me. One part of me was saying everything about how fucked up this all was and another was seeing through nostalgia glasses. I can't say I might not ever wanna talk to Akasha again but it's not gonna be for her, it's gonna be for me. I wanna know what she's gonna say to justify what she did that day and I wanna say what I'm thinking and just leave it at that. I'm not gonna do anything like that but I told you before that I wasn't gonna lie to you anymore and I've been pretty terrible at that for a long time. I'm just gonna take everything one day at a time and if I get a dumb idea like that again, I'll let you know."

"... well I'm happy to hear it." Winry conceded after a moment. "And I'm glad you told me instead of just saying you went on a walk."

"That's not everything that happened today though."

Winry's concern increased in her expression. "Okay... what's the rest of what you have to say?"

"I saw it today, my gate. When Paninya and I got off at Lomeind to head back here, I saw it." Ivy went on dropping bombshells that Winry was prepared for to an extent. "I spent my entire month in Resembool looking for it and it shows up in a freaking public bathroom of all places. I've seen it before too, you know." Ivy remembered that night when Edward and Alphonse had left to explore a rundown laboratory and she'd encountered her gate in a strange white space. "But when I tried opening it wouldn't no matter how hard I pushed it because I was fully prepared to leave then. Then this time it shows up already opened like it was just saying 'well, you've been waiting for me this long right?' Talk about one big joke."

"... so is this you saying goodbye then?" Winry asked quietly, bangs covering her eyes. Her expression was unsurprised but disappointed all the same. "It's- it's really been great having you here, even-"

"A character in a book I really like once said that you only have one chance and if you miss it, it's gone." Ivy grabbed Winry's hands as best as she could with one hand and gave her fingers a squeezed. "The door isn't going to be there when you go back to look. There's never gonna be a second invitation to the ball. I'm probably never gonna see that damn thing again."

Winry blinked once and looked at their hands before looking back at Ivy with wide eyes. "Then why didn't you go through it?" Ivy didn't answer immediately, face warming. She'd asked people out before, told them she'd been into them. Somehow this was a lot harder than any of those times, whether she was turned down or not. "Ivette, this is what you've been waiting for, right? You should go back and make sure it isn't actually too late! Why would you just leave it!?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ivy sounded like a strangled cat and cleared her throat before the word vomit continue. "You asked me before to stay and make Amestris my home. Well? I'm staying. I can't say I didn't think about it. I know everything I'm giving up, my mom, my grandma, the entire life I had before this. I miss a lot of the stuff I had before, you know?" Ivy started listing only a few things off the top of her head. "TV, going to this shady corner store down the street to get takis. I missed all of that so much when I first got here that I was really willing to just up and leave the moment I thought my ticket home arrived the first time. I even miss going to school and I hated that place, my school sucked!" Ivy laughed at her own rant. Her school was definitely the product of every student in it hating that they lived in a small town and trying to make school even a little enjoyable whether through dumb prank wars or annoying teachers. Peter Walker had been the most annoying class clown she'd ever encountered. "So I did think about it, just walking through because I knew that if I left that I'd probably be tossing the only chance I have home out the window. But I couldn't."

Winry's lips were trembling and her eyes were watering but Ivy carried on. "I don't wanna go somewhere you aren't. I love you, Winry. I love you so much I wanna cry. I wanna get a new arm and get back to making automail and open up a shop with a weird, corny name. I'm not gonna choose what I think I have to do anymore I'm choosing what I want and I want is to be with you." Ivy cleared her throat, flustered. "A-and I know it's not fair for me to say all this after everything I said about how I had to go back and how I couldn't accept your feelings but-"

Winry jumped to wrap her arms around Ivy's shoulders before the taller girl could even finish and Ivy hugged back tightly almost immediately before Winry dropped down the ground again, sighing into the crook of Winry's neck. "Sorry for being so wishy washy."

Winry let out a wet laugh, "you'll pay me back for it later."

"Yeah, I've got a long time to pay you back now, huh?" Ivy chortled lightly.

"Yeah." Winry murmured dreamily. "A long time."

Author's Note

Chapter 30 has finally come and it's official, Ivy has made her choice after reciting some words of wisdom from my guy Ben Evans from The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black (which I recommend if you are a faerie enthusiast like myself and want to read a book accurate to the myths and legends). Book recs aside, Ivy has decided that she would ultimately like to stay in Amestris with Winry than go back to Vallant. We've done it boys, she's made her decision- not that the ride is over yet what with Akasha's whereabouts unknown and the Promised Day creeping on over. But I figured some closure chapters were necessary considering how much her relationship with Akasha played into her life prior to everything happening and rationalizing that and getting the denial talked out her by Paninya, mostly that being chapter 29 bleeding into chapter 30 to her making her ultimate decision.

A complete opposite choice what she did in chapter 11!

But at least for the moment, the girls are having some peace and have made a promise for the future. After all the angst, they deserve some happiness. IveRy, WinVy Endgame. But honestly rewatching Brotherhood just reminded me of how fuckin' immaculate the ships of FMA are but at least IveRy has a place in my heart in fanon lol. Not that Akasha would ship it, but how much power can a Winry Anti who thinks she's Ed's soulmate possess anyway? Either way, we're in the final arc of the story and I'm looking forward to end of the ride of AFD before we go into Akasha's POV of things.

This is definitely a far cry from what AFD and SA were supposed to be as EdxOC and LingxOC pieces with two conflicting perspectives as a non-fangirl/weeb and an actual fangirl/weeb and the friends they made along the way. Even Akasha reconciling her Winry hate lol but I actually like the route I'm taking now including toxic friendships and toxic fan syndrome. Akasha def gives me 'twitter fights because of a random thing' vibes when she could easily let go. This incarnation of the story might've taken a different route but I hope it's been enjoyable so far for everyone. Time to celebrate writing 30 chapters with my fav Brazilian music, which I recommend as someone who has slept on it because I've been more into Spanish and Japanese for years but Portuguese is equally as pretty a language so I'm learning that now too. I recommend music by Seu Jorge, Buchecha e Claudinho, Mariana Nolasco, and Ana Vitoria.

Vedahzii: I'm sorry to hear about your mom, I hope you and your family have been coping well. I'm glad that you use the love you have for your mom to strengthen your writing and I hope to do the same as well!

BloodPokemon101: I guess it didn't come out the way I was trying to make it but it was more about Ivy finding closure in that she doesn't really want to talk to or forgive Akasha but initially still struggling with not being able to totally get out of the 'we're childhood friends' mentality. At least until she had her talk with Paninya and realized that if she wants to talk to Akasha one day she can but she doesn't have to force herself to do things she doesn't actually want to like talk to her just because she feels like she has to, which she admits to at the end of 29 that she doesn't want to go to Central or talk things out with Akasha. But I guess I could've displayed that better, I did struggle with writing the chapter a bit so it is something I can work on in the future to better display to the reader. But I didn't want Chapter 28 being the only chapter talking about her struggles with letting go of an old friendship and that 2 would be better. I figured most 15 year olds who aren't fully mentally/emotionally mature would be super quick to drop someone from their life if they've known them since they were 5 even if parts of them are saying 'yeah no drop em' and sometimes makes dumb choices because of it hence chapter 28. It's my first time writing a story where the mc has a toxic friendship with a friend so it's a learning curve but I don't think every toxic relationship is a clean break for everyone, and Ivy is one of the people where it isn't entirely clean. But I hope my reply gives you more insight into what I was trying to do with the chapter and I tried making that a bit more clear this chapter.