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

Isabella's POV

A knock was heard on the door after we hear that whistle go off. "Mr. Edward! Ms. Isabella! Is everything all right in there?" We hear a guard's voice asked. "Yeah, we're fine!" Russell said to him through the door. "We told them not to bother us in here." Russell said as Ed chuckles.

"Maybe they don't really trust you. Though I can't see why, you know, you are lying about who you two are." Ed said to him when Al noticed that Fletcher are gone. Then he see him at the door with Fletcher drawing a circle on it. "What the- Fletcher?" Russell questioned when Fletcher used alchemy to create a plant shutter sealing the door shut. "Run for it! Hurry!" Fletcher ordered the four of us as Al gasped.

"Brother, Isabella." Al said to his brother. "If they catch you we're all in trouble, so please get out of here quickly! I promise we'll explain everything later!" Fletcher said to us when we hear some banging behind the door. I growled at this and turn towards my direction. "All right. Let's go!" I said to thethree as we ran towards the window and make a run for it over the fence outside. Russell ran up to it after we made a run for it and he turn to his brother. "You can blame me, brother." Fletcher said to his brother.

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

{Opening song}

The Other Brothers Elric (Part 2)

No POV

Russell began healing Fletcher with the red stone. "You promised you would never experiment with alchemy, Fletcher. You know that Dad didn't like you doing it." Russell said to him when Mugear and his guards came into the lab. "My lab! What have they done to my lab?" Mugear questioned when the four of us faced him. "Oh, I'm glad to see you're all right. The stone? Has it been damaged?" Mugear asked them. "No need to worry. It's intact." Russell said to him when he gladly takes it from him.

"It's a decent size. I commend you for getting this far. But I'm afraid that out time-table's been pushed up. Ineed you to move directly into our contingency plan." Mugear said to us. "But sir, we've made real don't need to resort to that." Russell said to him. "Are you questioning the only person who's given you achance?" Mugear asked him. "No, no." Russell said to him when Mugear reveals something behind him. "There was once another alchemist who couldn't do what I asked him. He left here with his tail between hislegs, and was never heard from again." Mugear said when he drops the stone into a machine which started glowing.

"What is that?" Russell asked him. "With this machine, even a non-alchemist, such as myself has options." Mugearsaid when he uses it to create a red light and it turn into binds that held the four of us tangled up in. "Why are you ding this?!" I asked him out of anger. "Because I can. You honestly think I'm a fool don't you, that I don't realize the true Edward Elric has an auto-mail arm, Or that you're the sons of Nash Tringham?" Mugear questioned to the two brothers.

Isabella's POV

The three of us made to Belsio's house, and we opened the door to see if the cost is clear, and it is. We snuckback in unaware that Belsio was already there. "A lot of excitement up at the mansion tonight, huh kids?" Belsio asked us when we're shocked and I started chuckling at this. "You don't say?" I questioned him.

"The second night in a row. There's not much hope for you, is there?" Belsio asked us when we hear somecoughing from another room. "Is Elisa still here?" Al asked him. "Her father's going to be furious, but shewanted to stay here, and like you three, she won't listen to reason. I had no choice though, with her coughing like that, so I put her to bed." Belsio said to her.

*FF*

The three of us began talking to Belsio about the red water. "Red water?" Belsio questioned us. "They wantedto crystallize it into a red stone, and alchemic amplifier. Stupid. Compared to the Philosopher's Stone, it's acheap imitation. They're wasting their time." Ed said to him. "He said his father put his whole life into that research." Al said to him also. "And that she said that her parents died because of the red water like her friend's parents did. It's probably another lie." I said.

"Unless, maybe they're the sons of Nash Tringham, and those girl are the daughter of the Jones." Belsio said to us. "Nash Tringham? You mean that theorist Isabella and I read about, the guy whocame up with the idea?" Ed asked him. "And the two families who died because of the poisoning caused by the red water, and that those two girls have lived their lives as orphans?" I asked him as well. "He grew up in Xenotime, just like me. He only moved to Central to put his research together on the red water. He was gone for years. And then one night, he just showed up again, out of the blue. It was raining." Belsio said to us.

*Flashback Begins*

Nash is walking down the streets of Xenotime on a rainy night when he sees someone there. "Nash really are back. Guess I lost that bet. How are you?" Belsio said to him. Then the two went someplace where it's dry and have a drink there. "The town's worse off now than when you left. I keep saying we need togive up on gold, but that's a pill no one wants to swallow. So, how's research on the red water going, brains?Any luck yet?" Belsio asked him. "Abandoned. I'll never mess with it again. And I'm not going back to Central. Ever." Nash said to him. "ButNash, what about your family?" Belsio asked him. "I've been a failure, both as a good husband and a father." Nash said to him.

"No, Nash." Belsio said sadly. "He'd left behind everything that mattered to him. But he wouldn't tell me a word about what had happened in Central. He was a wet, wounded animal, ready to be pounced on. And the town's biggest land baron,Mugear, had made his fortune smelling blood." The next day Belsio sets a rock on top of the other and then he turns to see Nash and Mugear talking. "Beg me all you want, the answer's the same." Nash said to him. "You're going to turn your back on this town, too? The mines have dried up and people are suffering. But your red water could make us produce again. Once wehave the gold, the town will bounce back, twice as strong! We need you, Nash. You could be our hero. You canstill make something out of your life." Mugear said to him.

"Ultimately, he gave in, secluding himself in Mugear's mine to resume research."Then several people began celebrating on gold again."And as the land baron promised, the town was once again lit by gold. Furnaces were a flame, vendors filledthe streets with their wears. Life returned to the town. But at the same time, a mysterious plague began to spread. "Several babies began coughing and crying at the same time." We had all the money, but we couldn't buy a cure. Many, many babies succumbed to the disease soon afterbirth, including the parents of the two girls who also succumbed to the disease.

*Flashback Stops*

The three of us look at what Belsio said about what happened when Elisa can be heard coughing. "Elisa was born then?" I asked him as he nodded. "When she was a baby, an alchemic doctor named Marcoh passed through town and took a look at her." Belsio said to me.

*Flashback Continues*

Young Elisa is in bed coughing when a doctor named Marcoh took a look at her. "Somehow she's come intocontact with red water. I'll do whatever I can." Marcoh said when he reaches in his bag and grab a vile and he uses it to heal her, and it started to glow and Belsio looks at this turn of events.

*Flashback Stops*

"It glowed?" Ed asked him. "Yes." Belsio said to him. "The doctor's tool, could it be the real thing?" I asked him. "Whatever it was, we have that treatment to thank for Elisa's survival. I hounded Nash all about the red water." Belsio said to me.

*Flashback Continues*

The next day, Belsio began to talk to Nash about the red water. "Answer me, Nash! Before this town become agraveyard. What the hell have you done here?" Belsio asked him. "It's all my fault. I've brought it out, , Belsio. I'm going to stop it. Once, and for all." Nash said to him as he walks off. "But, Nash..." Belsio said when he sees Nash walk away."That was the last time anyone ever saw him. Soon after, the gold dried up and the town was once again onthe decline. If those were indeed Nash's boys, they must have come here in search of their father, Or his work."

*Flashback Ends*

The three of us are outside with me and Ed on a tree branch while Al stood on the ground. We wereall looking at the sky with thoughts in our heads at what Belsio said. "Edward." I called. "What is it?" Ed askedme. "Is it wrong? They wanted something to bring them closer to their father." I said to him. "Oh please, Isabella! They're just using their father to justify their own selfish causes." Ed said to me. "Maybe. But is it really all that different from what we're doing?" I asked him as he sighs. "All I'm saying is, I know how they must feel." I said to him as we continue to look at the sky

No POV

Russell and Fletcher were locked up in a dungeon with restraints on our wrists. "You're useless! You just had to put the contingency Phase 2 into effect!" Mugear said to the four of us through the door. "Brother? What is Phase 2?" Fletcher asked his brother. "Simple, really. You introduce the red water into the drinking supply of pregnant women. It permeates their planceta, a factory of biological condensing." Mugear said to him. "No!" Fletcher cried out. "You shut up!" Russell shouted at him. "When the process is done, you extract it and transmute it into a red stone. It's fool-proof! Let mother naturedo the work." Mugear said as Fletcher gasped, and Russell growl at this. "It's a shame. You have obviously inherited your father and your parents' cowardice." Mugear said as he walks off, but Russell stopped him. "Wait! Just tell me one thing, Mugear. Did their father ever use that method on someone?" Russell asked him.

"No. At the last minute he had a crisis of morality and backed out. If only he'd gone through with it, he would have saved his wretched life." Mugear said to me as Russell gasped at what he said. "You liar! You said he left here alive." Russell said as Mugear leaves.

*No POV*

Meanwhile somewhere in an underground facility. Mugear is talking with Lust. "I've taken care of everything. No all we have to do is convince the real Elric brothers, Rockbell to put our plans into motion." Mugear said to Lust. "You make it sound so easy, but those kids are more complex than you think." Lust said to him."I can handle a couple of children! Please, just put a little trust in me. We're close to milk and honey. I can fell it." Mugear said to her. "It's your gamble. Go ahead." Lust said to him as he chuckles and leaves. "One way or another, things will work out." Lust said to herself.

Isabella's POV

Daybreak came, and I yawned and sat up while stretching.

*FF*

The three of us arrived at Mugear's mansion and he begins talking to us. "I'm so sorry those impostors stoleyour identities. I was completely fooled by them. We all were, I'm ashamed to say. The last thing I want to dois add insult to injury. I'm sure you have work to do, but since you three really are such accomplished alchemists, there is a matter I'd like some help with." Mugear said to us. "Something with red water, by chance?" I asked him.

"Oh! So you have heard about it! That'll spare me having to explain. The truth of the matter is, I've done myresearch as well. And I happened to hear some rumors that you're very much interested in the Philosopher's Stone." Mugear said to me while holding a red stone in his fingers. I made a noise at this. "What do you think, Edward and Isabella? It's the product of crystallized red water. A prototype for the prize that you're after." Mugear said to us.

"And so what do we do with it?" Ed asked him. "First of all, together we can save Xenotime. Once we revitalize the gold mine, this town can get back on its feet again." Mugear said to him. "Sounds like a good cause. So,where are the fakes?" I asked him. "Taken care of. They're in the cellar." Mugear said to me when I clapped my hands together and used alchemy to destroy the stone which made Mugear looked shocked by what I did.

"What'd you do that for?" Mugear asked me. "We'll talk about the unfinished work later. First we execute those prisoners. We State Alchemists aren't the type to forgive liars." I said to him. "Oh! Then you mean you'reaccepting my request for assistance?" Mugear said to me. "I told you let's take care of those pathetic kids first." I said to him."It's been a good while since Roberta and I killed anyone. We kinda miss it." Ed said to him as well as we bothsmirked at Mugear. "You wanna watch?" Ed and I questioned all together with smirks on our faces. "Uh... No thanks. I'll let you two take care of it." Mugear said to us as we made a noise and Al looked at us

No POV

Russell who had his head between his legs in grief. "Brother." Fletcher called. When we hear the door opened and see that Ed, Al, and Isabella came in. "Hi." Al greeted. "Al, what are you two doing here?" Fletcher asked the two "Ed and I know who you guys are now. And we know that your father was actually Nash Tringham." Isabella said as the two brothers gasped. "What we don't know is why you'd so foolishly continue hiswork?" Isabella asked Russell. "Because it was his dream. And as his son it was my duty to see it through." Russell said to her.

"So you honestly think this is what he wanted? You do realize the suffering that toxic water is causing the people of this town, don't you?Well, your father realized it. That's why he chose to abandon his research. And we can tell you right now, you're not gonna find happiness by chasing your father's failed dream." Ed said to us as he and Isabella walked up to us, and they both clapped their hands together and used alchemy on our suddenly turn into blocks which set us free. "Live your own life and stop with all the acting, trying to besomeone you're clearly not. Come on, guys." Isabella said to the them as she and Ed, Al leave theroom, leaving the two brothers all alone.

*Isabella's POV*

Mugear stares at his hand which was stained from the red stone. "Not to worry. That was nothing comparedto what those kids will fashion for me." Mugear said to himself. "Which kids? You mean us?" I called when he turns to face the threeof us. "There's one more thing I've been wondering. Whatever happened to Nash Tringham? Just in case we have any questions to ask him." I asked him. "Nash Tringham? Oh! His research wasn't making progress anymore, so I let him go." Mugear said to me.

"Huh. You don't strike me and Isa as the type of people who lets someone who knows all of his secretsjust walk away clean." Ed said to him. "I'm afraid I miss the implication." Mugear said to him. "We're saying we don't answer to murderers, Mugear. You got that?" I said to him as he gasped. "Really? In that case, you'renot getting out of here alive. There are plenty of other alchemists I can use." Mugear said when he takes out asmall machine and a red stone.

"Another stone? So he's got more than one of those things?" I questioned as Mugear chuckles. "It may not be as potent as that other one..." Mugear then drops the stone into themachine, and it turns into a gun. "...But it'll do!" Mugear said as he shoots at us, but thank goodness we got out of the way. I moved to Ed's side and faced Mugear. "Is that all you've got?" I questioned him as hechuckles when he reveals a handful of red stones in his hand.

"Bad question." Ed said as Mugear laughs and dumps the whole handful into the machine. "Didn't think I had the stones?" Mugear questioned when his machine turns into an even bigger gun. "Aw crap!" Ed and I gasped all together as Mugear starts shooting at us. The three of us avoided it and we hide behind a pillar, while Mugear continues to shoot. Mugear chuckles at this."You can't hide for long." Mugear said while dumping another handful of stones into the machine and started shooting again.

"Yeah, I hate to say it, but he's right. We need an out. Fast!" I said to the three. But then Mugear runs out of ammo. "Not done yet." Mugear said when he's trying to reach for the stones, but wastangled up in some transmuted plants, which was caused by those three that we just freed. "Now's our chance, guys! Push!" I said to them as we pushed the pillar so hard until it falls on top of Mugear. Russell sighed at this and he stood up.

"Well Ed and Isa, I do hate to interrupt, but it looked like you needed the help." Russell said to me and Ed. "Nah." I said to him as he chuckles. "We're not gonna be chasing our dad's dream anymore. You're right. It's time we live our own lives." Russell said to us as Fletcher gasped at his words. "Russell!" Fletcher said out of happiness. But then Al begin to notice something. "Brother! Isa!" Al shouted as we looked at the floor and it was a secret passage. "A secret passage? Come on guys. Time for a chase." Ed said to us. "Right!" I said to him.

"We can't go without these."Russell sang when he held up five pairs of masks in he's hands. "And on top of that, you gave Ed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation last night, after he passed out due to the redwater. It's sorta like you had your first kiss with Ed." Russell teased as Ed and I blushed at what he said. "It's not what it looks like!" Ed and I shouted at hum as he clucked.

"Oh? Then it wasn't your first kiss?" Russell questioned us. "Of course it's not!" Ed and I shouted at him. The five of us put on the masks, while Al is...well... himself. "Okay, guys. Let's go!" Ed said to us. "Right!" The five of us said to him.

*FF*

The five of us ran down the tunnel. "Russell, how much farther?" I asked him. "The spring where the red water comes out is just up ahead! We're almost there!" Russell said to me. But then we stopped at a dead end that Mugear set up. When Ed walked up to the wall. "He forgot who he's dealing with." Ed said as he claps his hands and used alchemy to disintegrate the wall, but Mugear shoots a cannon and the eight of us dodged it

"I'll never surrender the spring! As long as I have the red water, nothing can stop me! Least of all twodiminutive State Alchemists and their copycat friends." Mugear said to us. But then he gasped when I stepped into the spotlight. "Isabella!" Russell and Fletcher called me. "Isabella!" Al said to me."'Diminutive State Alchemists'. Points for the big word, but you're still goin' down." I said as I clapped my hands together. "Ready, Edward?" I called as he clapped his hands as well. "You know I am, Isabella." Ed said to me.

"Oh yeah?" Mugear said when he fires again, and Ed and I fixed the wall via alchemy. Then it hit and Mugear flies back and the wall crumbles to the floor. Mugear started grunting when Ed and I walk up and look down on him. "You see now? Even with your stones, Ed and I are on a whole new level." I said to him when we hear something rumbling on the inside. "What's going on?" Mugear questioned as he sees the spring. The five begin to notice this.

"Ed! Isa! That's enough! Let's get out of here!" Russell said to us. "Brother!" Al called. As Ed and I covered our heads at the falling rocks, and we see Mugear in front of the spring. "I'llnever surrender the spring." Mugear said when he notices the water flowing out, and a huge rock falls on topof him.

*FF*

The five of us ran out of the tunnel, but then we stopped and hear the red water flowing from behind. "Rushing water. The red water's overflowing." Russell said as I ran up and clapped my hands together, and used alchemy to create a wall. "That should hold it, for now." I said.

*FF*

The five of us made it outside after we took the masks off. We all looked shocked to see the red waterflowing through the rocks and Ed and I ran off and clapped our hands, and used alchemy to create a giant wall around the mansion, and saving the city. "Now then, if we can just find a drain." I said when both Fletcher ran towards a nearby tree, and he started drawing a transmutation circle on it. Then they rest his heads on the tree and used alchemy on the trees in order to absorb the red water. We were all shocked by this turn of events.

"The trees, they're absorbing all the red water." Ed said in awe. "That's right, they weredetoxifying the red water with plants." I said when both Russell came up to Fletcher's side. The two brothers began to use team work and the trees absorbed the red water around the whole place. Ed and I sat back to watch the fireworks.

"They pulled through. Well done." Ed said when I held his hand with mine. He gasped and turned to see his hand linked with mine, and I turn to face him as well. The two of us blushed and we faced the whole turn of events, and we held our hands together while we watch the fireworks. The four faced each other at their teamwork, just like how Ed, Al, and I had our own teamwork.

"Thank you, trees. Sorry for this." Fletcher said to the tree as he and his brother all use their teamwork on alchemy to disintegrate all of the trees around us. The three of us looked happy at all of this, even though Ed and I had our hands joined throughout this turn of events, even those four sat back to watch the fireworks. The five of us looked happy at our team work when the wall Ed and I created started todisintegrate after we saved the city.

*FF*

The four of us are on a train, ready to go to East City, when Elisa gives Al a basket of lemons, and wither are Russell and Fletcher. "Take these. They're from my uncle." Elisa said as Al gladly accepts them. "Great. Thank you very much." Al said to her. "Stay out of trouble, you guys." Elisa said to us. "Yeah, and comeback and see us!" Fletcher said to him. "So are you sure you'll beable to make it in this town?" Ed asked Russell. "Can I give you one last hug?" Elisa asked Al in the background.

"Belsio wants us to go work for him. Our agricultural alchemy should be pretty useful around his farm." Russell said to him. "Okay, put me down! Put me down!" Elisa said to Al in the background. "So Isabella, you'll still hunt for the Philosopher's Stone with Ed after this?" Russell asked me. "Yeah." I said to him. "It's not much out of a tonement, but just in case you deserve to know." Russell said to me as Ed smiles and shook his head.

"Thanks a lot Russell, but no thanks. We'll find the real article on our own. You can count on that!" Ed said to him. "You'll see Ed! When you and Isabella come visit, this town will be even better!" Fletcher said to him. "That's right, and by that time, I'll probably be taller than you and Isabella!" Elisa said as Ed stammers. "Come on! Show a little respect for your elders, huh?" Ed said as both Elisa and Fletcher started giggling.

"I'm serious. Hey, why's that funny?" Ed questioned when the train whistle blows off and the train leaves, and the three of us waved at the four. "So long guys!" Ed shouted out. "Catch 'ya later!" I shouted out also. "Good-bye!" Al shouted out as well as the three waved back. "Good-bye!Good-bye!" Fletcher shouted out. "Don't forget to visit! Good-bye!" Elisa shouted out also.

I was sitting next to Ed and he was looking outside. But then he noticed something while I notice it as well. Wepulled out the two papers and looked at them. "Hey, a letter." Ed said. "And another." I said as well. Ed and I opened our letters. "Yeah. Let me read it." Ed said to her. "And I'll read mine." I said to her as well as the two of us started reading. But we gasped at what we saw.

"What?!" Ed questioned in shock. "What in the-?!" I questioned in shock as well. "What's it say?" Al asked us as the two of us hide our letters. "Drop it! It's nothing okay!" Ed and I said to him all together. "Oh?" Al questioned when they began to start swiping our letters. "Let me see! Let me see! Let me see!" Al said all together. "Stay away from us guys, we're serious!" Ed and I said all together. "If it's nothing then show it to us!" Al said as he swiped our letters. "Hey!" Ed and I shouted. "Got it!" Al shouted. "Give it back!" Ed and I said as Ed's letter reads.

"Ed, thank you for all the help and words of wisdom you gave us. I'm sorry I was such a smart ass to you at first. But I'm trying to be a better older brother to Fletcher, and I'll try hard to follow your example, Ed. I guess you and Isabella being a year older than me makes a big difference. Well, have a good trip. Russell."

My letter also says almost similar to Ed's.

"Damn, I can't believe he are both a year younger than me and Isabella and already so much taller. Life is so unfair!" Ed said sadly. "And I can't believe it myself that they're a year younger than us as well. It's so unfair!" I said sadly as well.