Chapter 1 - Brothers

Years later, in a city near the desert, a male voice was heard throughout.

"Children of God who dwell on the earth… There is no salvation without prayer and faith. The Sun God Leto will illuminate thy path. Behold! The Lord hath descended from his heavenly throne to save thee from all sins. For I am thy Father... I am the Emissary of the Sun God."

"A religious broadcast on the radio?" an armored figure asked in a young boy's voice.

"Emissary of the Sun God?" a young blonde-haired teenager wearing a red jacket added. "What the heck is that?"

"I dunno," a middle-aged White Lab answered. "Guess he's a Letoist."

"I thought you didn't believe in religion," a middle-aged tan dog replied in a Brooklyn-accented voice.

"Anyway," the bartender began, "I was about to ask the same thing about your two owners." Turning to the young blonde teen and the armored figure, he continued, "Are you guys street performers or something?"

The blonde teen spit out his juice in response to the question.

"Hey, wait a minute, Pops!" the teen replied. "What makes you think we're street performers!?"

"Well," the bartender guessed, "what else could you be? I haven't seen your faces before. Are you guys on a trip?"

"I guess you could say that," the white lab answered. "Where chaperoning these two boys and they are hunting something down."

"Chaperoning?" the tan dog repeated. "We ain't their parents."

"I know," the white lab replied. "I can't believe it's been four years since…that event."

"And we promised Mrs. Pinako that we'd watch over them no matter what."

"By the way," the blonde teen began, "what's this broadcast?"

He referred to the voice on the radio.

"You've never heard of Father Cornello?" the bartender replied in surprise.

"Father who?" the tan dog asked.

"Father Cornello," the bartender answered, "the Sun God Leto's Emmisary!"

"He's the founder of the Church of Leto," a random villager added. "He can work miracles! He's a wonderful man who came to this town a few years ago and showed us all the way of God."

"Yeah, he's amazing!" added another villager.

"They're real miracles!" yet another villager added. "It's the work of God!"

"… Are you even listening?" the bartender asked the blonde teen.

"Nope," the teen replied. "Not interested. Anyway, thanks for the food. Let's go."

"Okay," the armored figure replied, getting up as the teen did, little knowing that he bumped the rim of the ceiling of the bar. Just then, a crash. "Oops."

The radio was smashed into pieces upon hitting the ground.

"Hey!" The bartender shouted. "Could you please be more careful, sir? Quite frankly, you shouldn't walk around wearing that suit…"

"No big deal," the blonde teen replied. "We'll fix it for you right away."

"How are you going to do that?" the bartender asked. "It's in a million pieces."

"Just stand back and watch," the teen assured.

The armored figure drew a large circle and pentagram around the broken radio, with a piece of chalk. He was wearing a white apron over his waist, and a band around his right leg.

"OK, I'm ready," the figure said. "Here we go…"

He put his hands together, and, in a flash, the radio was back in one piece, as if like new. The bartender and villagers were impressed.

"That's amazing!" the bartender said in awe. "Are you miracle workers?"

"No," the White Lab replied. He wore a red collar while his tan companion's was black. "They're just alchemists."

"Have you heard of Edward and Alphonse Elric?" the tan dog asked the bartender. "Well, you're looking right at 'em."

"Yeah, I've heard of them," various villagers said. "They say the older brother's a state alchemist they call the 'Fullmetal Alchemist,' Edward Elric!"

The blonde teen, Ed, smirked a proud smile. However, the villagers crowded around Al, the armored figure.

"So, you're the master alchemist that everyone's talking about!" the villagers continued. "Oh, I get it! They call you 'Fullmetal' because of the armoryou wear."

"Oh, no… it's not me, it's him!" Al corrected.

"Huh? You mean the little guy?"

That word got Ed really TO'd.

"LITTLE?!" Ed shouted. "WHO THE HECK ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE?! DO I LOOK LIKE A SHRIMP?!"

"You guys shouldn't call Eddie little," the tan dog informed the villagers. "Brian and I should know."

"Hey, what's going on over there?" a voice got everyone's attention.

It was a gray border collie wearing a maroon scarf with a bone on it. He and his owner, a young brunette haired woman, were carrying groceries.

"Ah, Rosé and New Brian," the bartender greeted. "Are you two going to the temple?"

"Yeah," Rosé replied, "with some offerings."

"Oh, a few new faces," New Brian noticed.

"Nice to meet you," Brian, the White Lab greeted. "I'm Brian, and this is my little brother, Vinny."

"Hi," Vinny, the tan dog, also greeted.

"And the blonde kid and the big suit of armor over there are Edward Elric and his little brother, Alphonse."

"Yeah," Ed agreed. "I'm Ed and he's Al."

"Nice to meet you," Al greeted.

"Nice to meet you," New Brian greeted back. "Rosé here has been really happy lately. And it's all thanks to Father Cornello. She has no family, and she lost her boyfriend last year in an accident, which made her heartbroken. That was when the Father
saved her! He taught her about Letoism."

"You sure about this?" Vinny asked New Brian?

"Yup, I was there," New Brian nodded. "They say that he resurrects the dead, and the souls of his faithful live on for a long time. The miracles prove it. Perhaps you guys can see for yourself sometime. It's definitely a dietic power."

"Resurrects the dead, huh?" Ed repeated. "That doesn't sound good..."

"I tell you," Cornello sermoned inside his church, "pray and have faith. All my prayers will be answered, and the grace of his light shallshine upon all his children."

With that, he cut off the broadcast with a flick of the switch.

"A fine sermon, Your Holiness," Brother Cray congratulated.

"Yes, thank you," a church worker agreed. "It's an honor to hear you preach."

"Your Holiness!"

Rosé had entered, greeting Cornello with New Brian beside her.

"Ah, welcome," Cornello greeted back. "My, you two are dedicated! You're examples to us all."

"Nah," New Brian replied. "We're just doing our duties."

"By the way," Rosé added, "when are you able to...?"

"Yes, I know," Cornello replied, placing his hands on her shoulder contently. "God has seen your good deeds."

"Then..."

"But there's a time and a place for anything. Now is not the time...yet. You two understand, do you not?"

"Yes, Your Holiness," New Brian replied.

"You're right," Rosé added. "Not yet..."

"That's good to hear," Cornello grinned.

Author's note: Parts of this chapter are mostly based on the first half of chapter 1 of the manga, "The Two Alchemists".