Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Isabella.

*No POV*

"On the day we left, we burned down the family home and all the familiar things inside. Because some memories aren't meant to leave traces."

Ed, Al, and Isabella are on a train to Central, the three sit in separate seats. Ed was on one side while Isa sat next to him, and Al was on his side. "Al, you two are okay with this right? I mean, everything behind. You two don't have regrets do you?" Ed asked them. "There's no turning back now. And remember, Al and I are the ones who insisted on coming with you and Isabella. Besides, we all know you'll miss home more than we will." Al said to him.

"Good riddance, that's what I say! 'Cause you know who's on their way to becoming State Alchemists? Us!" Isabella stated to them. "Me too. And when I become State Alchemist, we'll first fix Ed's body" Al said to her. "We told you, Al, that's not your burden. You will just have to take care of yourself." Ed said to him. "I wonder how one goes about becoming a State Alchemist? Do you two think we'll have to take a test?" Al asked his brother as Ed looks down. Then a flashback of what happened begins.

"Whatever it was, I'm happy I came. If these kids can try human alchemy and survive. I've gotta say, their dad just dropped a wrung on my priority list." Mustang said looking down at Ed. The flashback ends with Ed in what he is today.

"Whatever it takes, I'm sure Mustang'll guide us through it." Isabella said as Ed started laughing. "What am I stressing for, Isabella, with talents like ours! This'll be a cakewalk for us!" Ed said as Isabella sweat-dropped. 'He's a total idiot.' Isabella thought.

*FF*

Pinako and Winry stood in front of the remains of the Elric family home. "There's nothing we can do, those stubborn kids made their choice. But they'll realize their mistake and come back home." Pinako said to Winry as she clutches her fist and tear up. "I hope so... I really do..." Winry said to her grandmother.

"Humankind cannot gain anything, without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That isalchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth."

{Opening song}

*Isabella's POV*

The three of us sat on the chair at the train station, after nightfall hits us. I started yawing while Ed does the same. "Brother, Isabella, do you two know what time our next train leaves?" Al asked us. "Yeah, not 'till tomorrow morning." I said to him. "Let's get some shuteye." Ed stated to us. But then we here a scream from somewhere and look to see what happened, and see a purse snatcher running. "My purse! He stole my purse!" A woman yelled out. "Break's over." I said to them. "Yep." Al said as the four of us stood up. "It's almost too easy." The snatcher said to himself as he stopped right in front of us.

"Where do you think you're going?" I questioned as he point the gun at us. "Off to bed with you, like good little boys and girl now." The snatcher said to us. But then Al used alchemy. "What the...?" The snatcher said out of shock when the two use alchemy to trap himin a cage, causing him to drop his gun in the process. "I think you're the one who crawled out of the crib too early." Ed said to him. "Nicely done." We hear a voice said and we turn to see a man behind us.

"Now that was something else. Your trick wouldn't be what they call "alchemy" would it?" The man asked us. "Uh, yeah." I said to him."Hmm, to think kids your age could be such accomplished alchemists. Around these parts, the only alchemist I ever get to see is old Majhal." The man said to me. "Majhal, huh?" Ed asked him. "Yup. They say he does great things for people with his alchemy, like you kids 'squite well respected." The man said to him. "Where can we find him?" Ed asked him.

"Yeah, where can we find this "Majhal" character?" I asked him. "Oh, next town over. But you really don't wanna go there right now, kids. I'veheard it's become a dangerous place. They say the dead have risen from their graves, and are sending the villagers to them." The man saidto us. But then we took a carriage ride to the village, while the four of us sat down in the carriage. "Why are you and Isabella so interested in meeting this "Majhal" person, brother?" Al asked his brother.

"That name, that same name kept popping up all over those old letters." Ed said to him. "You mean your father's letters?" I asked him. "Yeah, and if I remember, he wrote about Human Transmutation. I figure if it's the same Majhal, it can't hurt to pay visit to him." Ed said to me."Yeah! I have a feeling this is going to be a good trip." Al said to him. "What's wrong? You seem almost happy, and so are you, Isabella." Ed said to us as we look on at him.

"Well, we did snag that Purse-snatcher, and then everyone was so grateful to us. I guess I'm just starting to see how alchemy has the powerto make other people's lives a bit better." I said to him. The three of us arrived at the village, but Ed was groaning and held onto his back."Are you alright, brother?" Al asked him. "Yeah, I'm just peachy. I love turbulent carriage rides, in seats as soft as granite. It didn't bother youthree, at all?" Ed asked us. The three of us shook our heads as he sighs. Then he look at something down below.

"Will 'ya look at that. Someone's throwin' a party, with torches and everything. But they forgot to invite us." Ed said to us. But then we hear afirework go off, making us jump. Then we hear some footsteps come towards us. "That one got a little too close to the village." We hear one voice said. "You aren't supposed to be here, this place is off-limits! You could get yourself killed!" One kid said as Ed and I look at her with shocked expression on our faces.

"We're in the middle of testing fireworks for the-" I cut her off. "Yeah, we noticed that." I said to her. "They're for the festival, I'm in charge. Hey, you guys aren't from around here, are you?" That kid asked us. But then Al is being poked by another kid with a stick. "What is this ugly thing, some kind of giant robot from the future?" That kid said as Ed chopped the stick in half. "Quit it." Ed ordered him.

"Show 'em how we, welcome strangers." That kid said to them as the other kids started charging at us. But then Ed started charging, and tripped over a rock,making him fall to the ground. Al began stumbling and grabs the head of a statue, and, "Uh-oh." I said as I fall to the ground it breaks making him fall on his brother.

*FF*

"My back..." Ed and I said in pain. "We sure showed them." One kid said to the others. "What's going on here?" We hear a voice asked and we see this Majhal man in front of us. He then used alchemy to put the head back in its place as the three of us look on. "You must be Majhal." I said to him.

The three of us are now at his house, and sat on the table in front of us. "Such fine workmanship. That's truly an impressive spirit attachment." Majhal commented. "He knows about me, brother." Al said to his brother. "And you weren't involved with this, aren't you?" Majhal asked me. I gasped at his words. "He knows about us as well, Ed." I said to him. "I'd expected nothing less from thesons of Hohenheim, and a girl whose parents were killed in the Ishval. Apparently, you've inherited his great talent." Majhal said as Ed looks down.

"Now then, tell me what can I do for you kids today? Surely you've come here seeking something particular, and I can't very well disappointthe sons of a dear friend, and their friends." Majhal said as Ed sat his tea cup down. "I've read the letters you wrote to my dad, I wanna knowmore about Human Transmutation." Ed said to him. "No doubt you're aware. That human alchemy is strictly forbidden by the laws of thestate." Majhal said to him. "Yeah, I know. But I don't care, I will return my brother to his body." Ed said to him.

"I think you have already seen first hand, the incredibly high toll of messing around with human alchemy. I know how it feels to losesomeone, but the act of molding flesh is better left to the hands of God." Majhal said to him. "Okay, if that's the way you feel, then why wereyou so obsessed with it back then?" I asked him. "Youthful optimism, or youthful foolishness." Majhal said to me. But then we hear a knockon the door and Majhal answered it to reveal a hooded old woman at the door.

"Hello, Mr. Majhal, I made a batch of rose jam, and had some extra, so I thought perhaps you might enjoy." The old woman said to him ashe gladly takes it. "Of course. You spoil me, Lebi. You're too kind." Majhal said to her. "Not at all." The woman said to him. "Was there something else, then?" Majhal asked her. "No, I'm sorry. Excuse me." The woman said to him. "Well, all right. Take care." Majhal said to her as she leaves and he closed the door. Ed then started eating while I started eating.

"So, what is this festival we heard about?" Al asked him. "Oh yes, the Requiem Festival. It's when the spirits of the dead are sent up onfireworks to be returned to Heaven, where they belong." Majhal stated to her. "And what about all these rumors we heard about the dead coming back to life as murderous zombies on a bloody rampage? Did that have anything to do with that?" Ed asked him with a mouth full of food. I sweet dropped at his impoliteness. 'What a pig he's becoming.' I thought to myself as Majhal chuckles at his words.

"Silly rumors of a superstitious town." Majhal said as he heard a knock on the door. "My, my. I certainly am popular this evening, aren't I?" Majhal asked as he gets up and answers it to reveal that same kid we saw earlier. "You little brat!" I stated at that kid. But then that kid's father pat her head. "Out with it, Clause. Don't you have something to say to Majhal?" That kid's father asked her. 'Her name is Clause?" I thought as that kid named Clause talks back at her father.

"But I don't really see why I should have to apologize! It's their stupid fault for being so weak, for those three anyway." Clause said as Ed got mad at this and was grabbed by his brother. "WHAT?! LEMME AT HER! COME ON, LEMME AT HER!" Ed said angrily. "Control yourself, Ed!" I said to him. "Oh Clause, I know your sister's death affected you. But you were once a sweet and gentle little girl. What would your late sister think if she could see what you've turned into?" Majhal asked her.

"Shut up! You don't know how I feel, nobody does! My sister didn't just up and die... She was killed, by that dead girl!" Clause shouted at him. "Okay, come again?" Ed questioned about what she said. But then Clause ran outside as her father looks on. "Clause, no wait!" Her father called out as she continues to run. But we chased after her. "Hey! Come back here!" I called out as she kept on running, and then tripped over a rock making her tumble down to the river. But Ed drew a circle and used alchemy to turn the river into ice to save her. I breathed out at his action.

"That was too close." I said to myself. Clause was surprised by this and stood up to look up at us. "You're alchemists, and you saved me?" Clause asked us. The three of us were sitting on the grass as Clause tells us what happened. "It's been nearly six months since my sister died. We had no idea how or why. One of the villagers just found her, lying there, like she was sleeping. But she wasn't asleep. And then, on thenight of her funeral..." Clause said as a flashback of her and her father began. She was sobbing over her late sister when her father patted her head.

"Oh, Clause..." Her father said sadly. But then wind began blowing against the trees. And then her father sees a figure behind the trees and the figure just smiled at them. "Karin?!" Her father said out of shock as Clause look on at what she saw. The figure then move behind the tree and the flashback ends with Clause looking down.

"My father told me that she was a woman who lived in the village a long time ago before she died. Don't you see? From there on, it wasn't hard to put it together. The dead lady came back to life and killed my sister, and others too. It's all because of her." Clause said to us. Then she began to look down at us.

"But if you guys really are alchemists, you can help me avenge her death! I've begged Majhal to help, but he refuses to take part. Whaddaya say?" Clause asked us. I felt so sorry for her after what happened to her sister. But Ed looks away from her.

"I can see why Majhal wouldn't consider it." Ed said as Clause looked confused at what he said and stood up. I stood up as well. "Your theory's as logically sound as a ghost tale. Besides, I don't believe in revenge as motivation." Ed said to her. "You're just saying that. 'Cause you're nothing but a couple of chickens! Posing as alchemists when you're just a cowardly pipsqueak, his blonde haired girlfriend, and his walking trashcan." Clause said as Ed got mad at what she said.

"Pipsqueak?!" Ed said angrily. "Girlfriend?!" I said angrily while blushing. "Trashcan?" Al said sadly. "Nobody calls me a pipsqueak and gets away with it! Not even a little girl!" Ed yelled at her. "I'm not even his girlfriend!" I yelled at her as well. "Oh, is that so? Gosh I'm so terrified of a whiny little pipsqueak and his girlfriend!" Clause mocked as Ed and I got even more angrier. "Shut up and take a look at yourself! If you're a girl like they all say, why do you look like a paperboy?!" Ed and I asked as Clause look on. "None of your business!" Clause shouted and kicked some dirt in our faces and runs off. Ed and I growled at her as while Al just sat there being sad by that word Clause just said.

*The Next Day*

I was sleeping when daybreak came by. I was wearing a black nightgown, with my hair down. The sunlight hit my eyes causing me to wake up groaning. I yawned and stretched to wake up every single part of my body.

*FF*

"Karin? Ah, yes, I remember her. She was a florist, and the exquisite beauty of her flowers was surpassed only by her own. I can't believe it's been only twenty years now. She had recently succeeded in cultivating the extremely rare blue rose. Oh, the woman's smile at the time was simply... But then..." Majhal trailed off. But then a flashback of what happened twenty years ago began. "...On her way to deliver her, by then famous, blue roses into town..." Majhal trailed off when Karin fell until the flashback ends.

"And so she fell to her death that day, she fell out of all of our lives forever." Majhal said to us sadly. "But they say this same Karin had been terrorizing the villagers." I said to him. "Absolutely impossible... We both know the dead don't simply "come back to life". And even if they could, if you knew Karin at all, you'd know it would be inconceivable for her to harm anyone in life or in death." Majhal said to me. Then the three began talking in another room with me next to Ed while Al stand.

"So, what do you think, brother?" Al asked his brother. "Well I don't buy ghosts, or zombies, or the living dead. But, supposing someonewere to perform a Human Transmutation, the only one around here capable of such a thing would be Majhal, who-" Ed was then cut off when he heard a noise from somewhere. "What was that?" Ed questioned as he looks out the hall. "What is it, Ed?" I asked him. "You guys hear that, or am I goin' crazy?" Ed asked one of us. "Hear...what?" Al asked him.

No POV

Clause and her friends are discussing on tonight while their at a restaurant. "So, we're really gonna do this." Her friend asked her. "Yeah, we're gonna catch this Karin zombie on our own. 'Cause no one else is gonna do it for us." Clause said to her friend as he looks away. "Are you wussing out on me? If this keeps up, someone else is gonna get killed, and it could be you!" Clause said to her friend. "Yeah, but what if she tries to-" Her friend couldn't finish because the two here something break from another table.

"Come on, lady, are you trying to get me an ulcer?" The man asked the old woman. "I'm so sorry, it was an accident." The woman said to him. "Just get outta here. You've been nursin' that bowl of soup all day." The man said to her as Clause continues the conversation with her friends. "So then we make our move tonight. You got that?" Clause said to her friend.

*Isabella's POV*

The three of us arrived at the grave site. I was walking next to Ed, while Al fall behind scared out of his wits. "Brother, Isabella, wait for me!" Al said as he catch up to us. "What's with you? Are you scared?" I asked them. "There aren't really any zombies around, are there?" Al asked us. "Don't be thick, Al. If Karin is roaming these woods, it would only be thanks to human alchemy, which is the only reason we're here." Ed said to his brother.

Then we all fell into a trap hole. "It worked!" One boy said at their success."We got her!" The other boy said as the two came out of the bushes, then Clause came out to see that what they caught was the three of us.

"Ow, my back! Again..." Ed said in pain. Clause sighs at this. "False alarm." Clause stated to then her friend began gasping and point the other way. "O-Over there!" Her friend said as she gasped to see the Karin figure by the graves and turns to look at them. Then her friends ran for their lives while Clause stayed behind and growls at this. "You took my sister from me." Clause growled at that figure. The three of us came out while Clause started charging at the figure.

"Wait, Clause!" I called out, but she ignored me and continues charging at her. But was stopped by Majhal, who uses alchemy on his braceletto control the fire and burn the Karin figure to the ground. Clause was astonished by this, and that same sound appeared again. I gasped when I heard it. "That sound again." I said about that sound Ed told me about. But a woman was behind the trees and was watching the fireworks from behind.

"Majhal's just a two-bit alchemist, after all. How disappointing." The woman said as she leaves. Ed turns to see the woman from behind the tree leave the scene. "Ed, what is it?" I asked as he turns to me. "Nothing, Isabella. It's nothing." Ed said to me.

*FF*

Fireworks started going off as people in the village celebrate in the festival. "To Majhal, a real hero!" One man said to the other. "Yeah, Majhal. If it weren't for you, this town'd be overrun by zombies. I knew you'd put her in her place." The other man said to him.

*FF*

The three of us are at his house as Ed knocks on the wall, not before he placed his ear against. "What are you doing, Ed?" I asked him. "I was right about her not being a zombie, but she wasn't a transmute either." Ed said to me. "What do you mean?" Al asked him. "That sounds he made. It's the same one I heard in here." Ed said to her. But then we hear someone in the room and turn to see the old hooded woman from before.

"Majhal will be very cross if he finds you. He doesn't like it when people snoop around his home." The woman said to us. "Yeah, and what call what you're doin'?" I asked her. But then she uses the light from the candle to make me and Ed grab our head and fall over. "Brother, Isabella!" Al cried as the three of us fall to a strange room filled with mannequins. "What... What's all this?" Ed asked either me. "I... I don't...know..." I said to him as the two of us became unconscious. "Brother, Isabella!" Al cried as Majhal came and use alchemy to make him unconscious.

*FF*

I slowly regain consciousness while Ed do the same. "Hey, are you two alright?" Al asked us as we realize that the three of us are tied up in chains. "At last, they awaken. It appears you've stumbled across something that you really shouldn't have seen, Edward." Majhal said to him. "Oh, you mean...the so-called "zombies"? Yeah, Isabella and I saw you toys." Ed said to him.

"Toys? They're canvases for spirit attachments. Mannequins I've carved into exact replicas of my beloved Karin, onto which I bind the soul ofany village girl I can snare. In doing so, I've formed living versions of my fallen love." Majhal said to him. "It's shocking that plan ever went awry." I said to him.

"It is true that souls tend to reject foreign vessels that are unlike them in nature. They usually malfunction. That's why Al is so special. Someof my dolls escaped, wandering free about in the village, fueling superstitions." Majhal said to her. "You crazy selfish nutcase! Do you even know what you've done?! Why on earth did you do it?!" I asked him angrily.

"For the same reason any man has ever done anything that is visionary." Majhal said to me as flashbacks began. "Karin was the only woman I ever loved. Even years after her death, my scars refused to heal. I committed myself to bringing her back, using the only talent I had at mydisposal: Alchemy. When my attempt at Human Transmutation failed, the least I could do was create something that resembled her beauty." Majhal said as the flashback ends. "I did it for love." Majhal said to me.

"So, you chose body over soul?" Ed said to him. "Shut up! You're a child, what could you possibly know of love? But you do know something of alchemy. And now you're going to help me with an attachment like you did for your brother." Majhal said to him. "Yeah, right." Ed said to him. "It figures. You're just as stubborn, if not more so, than your father was." Majhal said to him. But then the door opens to reveal Clause behind it.

"I just...wanted to thank you for earlier." Clause said to him. "You foolish girl." Majhal said to her. "Run, Clause!" I called out as she wasknocked unconscious and Majhal catches her. But the old woman stops him. "It's gone too far! I can't turn a blind eye any longer!" The old woman said to him. "Then you should try turning the other cheek, wench!" Majhal said to her as he tossed her aside making her fall to the floor. After Majhal leaves the room with an unconscious Clause, the three of us needed to escape.

"Do something, Al!" Ed said as Al started moving his arms to break the chains. "Just a little more..." Al said as he finally got us free. Ed and I ran up to the old woman to see if she was alright, but then see something in her hair. "A rare blue rose?" Ed said as he gasped.

*FF*

"Little soul, accept your new vessel. Wherever you are, Karin, bless us. Let her become just like you." Majhal chanted as Clause regained consciousness and looks to see what's happening. "No! Let me go!" Clause cried out as she struggles to break free. But the four of ustransmuted a hole in the wall to let us enter. "Let her go, Majhal! Nothing you think you know is the truth. And what you've been seeking all along is under your nose." I said to him.

"What is this nonsense?" Majhal asked me. "I'm trying to tell you that Karin never died. The day of the accident, she hit her head, lost her memory and started a new life somewhere. Twenty years later, her memory returned in a flash, and, in a true gesture of love, she came straight back to you. But you were too blinded by obsession to see it was her." I said to him as Ed removes the hood from the woman and Majhal's eyes widen at what he sees.

"Yes, Majhal." The woman said to him. "It can't... Are you telling me this wrinkled old woman is Karin? Karin was a woman of incomparable beauty and perfection. Just like a rose." Majhal said to us. "Exactly like a rose. Flowers wither, Majhal. But despite what you've become, Karin's feelings for you have not." Ed said to him. But Majhal got mad at Ed's words. "Silence, child! Say one more word... and you're dead!" Majhal shouted as he grabs a screwdriver and used alchemy to turn it into a sword and starts charging at us.

But Al shielded us from his attack, and he continues to charge. I grabbed the blue rose from Karin's hair, drew a circle and use alchemy to turn it into a whip. Majhal then attacks Al, but I used the transmuted whip to stop him, sending the sword flying and falling on him, impaling him in the process. Karin was shocked by this and runs up to him.

"Majhal! Majhal..." Karin said out of shock while holding him. "I...don't see it... There's just no way you could possibly be my Karin. Karin...I'mcoming for you." Majhal said as we all look on as he dies in Karin's arms. Her eyes widen at his death and started screaming in anguish.

*The Next Day*

The three of us are waiting for a carriage at a stop. I was standing next to Ed while Al sat down feeling depressed. The two of us look at the two and face them. "Good to see you depressed and back to normal." Ed said as Al look up. "I'm sorry, I were just thinking how alchemy has the power to delude people, too." Al said to him. "Yeah... Guess it does." I said as we hear a horse coming, which means our ride is here. But before we could get in the carriage, we heard footsteps coming towards us.

"Hey!" We hear a voice said as we turn to see Clause in her true colors. "I'm sorry about everything, I did and said. You guys really are terrific alchemists." Clause said to us as we look confused by her looks. "Uh, yeah we are, but who are you?" Ed asked her. "Call me crazy, Ed, but I think that's Clause." I said to him as she nods her head. The three of us look at each other and then scream out in confusion, causing Clauseto go mad at this.

"Will you guys grow up!" Clause shouted at us as the four of us got in the carriage. The carriage then leaves as Ed opens the door forsomething to say for her. "You're definitely much prettier when you don't dress like a paperboy!" Ed shouted as Clause waves at us in happiness.

{Ending song}