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

Isabella's POV

Al barged in unannounced. "You're not going to believe who's here!" Al yelled out when Ed and I pulled away, and Winry came in. Then someone we know appears behind Al who is scared stiff. Winry was confused by this, while Ed and I were scared out of our wits as they faced us. "Ed, Issy, do you two know this guy?" Winry asked us as we felt scared by that question. "Yeah, and that means..." Ed trailed off when he ran towards a window but was kicked in the face, sending him flying to the floor.

"Edward!" I cried out as I ran to him. "And just where do you think you're going, Ed?" A voice asked when I recognized that voice, and it was Teacher's voice. "You've always been so predictable." Teacher said while coming in through the window. Ed and I are scared by this. "Hello, Teacher. What are you doing here?" I asked her all scared and stuff. "That's your teacher?" Winry questioned me as she walked up and stopped in her tracks.

"But that means she's..." Winry trailed off. "An alchemist. Taught us everything we know." I said to him when Teacher looked around a bit. "Where is Alphonse?!" Teacher yelled out when Al became scared. "Ma'am!" Al shouted, who get all scared as she walked up to him. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Well, I want to thank you so much for escorting us here. Do you know where I can find Alphonse?" Teacher asked them.

"Um, well... I'm Alphonse." Al said to her. "That's right, of course you are. Now, as I was saying..." Teacher trailed off when she noticed something, and Al moved back a little. She sends Al to the ground first, which makes him scream. "So, you're hiding in disguises, now? Don't worry, I have plenty of stories reaching me about my idiot apprentices, breaking away from everything I taught them to become the scum of the military! Isn't that right?!" Teacher said when Ed and I hide behind both Winry in fear.

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

{Opening song}

-Undo/Cool Joke-

-Teacher-

No POV

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city. Colonel Mustang and General Grumman are both seen playing chess. "The official transfer just came through. Looks like you'll be working in Central, starting next week." Grumman said to him. "That's right." Roy said to him. "Things won't be the same without you. You've been quite colorful, to say the least." Grumman said to him.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm nothing compared to when you were younger, General, and check," Roy said when he called a check, which made Grumman gasp at this. "Not too bad, huh?" Roy said to him. "I haven't had to do much with you covering everything. Now I might have to start working again." Grumman said to him. "You have my deepest sympathy." Roy said to him when he sat his knight piece down. "Checkmate." Roy said, which made Grumman laugh.

"You've finally beat me." Grumman said to him. The game was over and all the pieces were back inside the board. "Consider your win a farewell gift, Colonel." Grumman said to him. "With honor, sir," Roy said to him as Grumman stood up. "General." Roy called when he stood up as well. "I have a request, there are a few subordinates I'd like to transfer with me to Central." Roy said to him. "Sure, that's fine. And take this, too." Grumman said when he handed him the board, and he gladly took it. "Thank you, General." Roy said to him.

Isabella's POV

We are now on a train, heading towards Dublith, and the three of us are tied up when Teacher takes mine and Ed's watches. "Are you sure you're going to be alright, guys?" Winry asked us. "Yeah. We just didn't expect her to come looking for us." Al said to her. "Damn it, she took mine and Issy's watches. And I can't exactly say I'm comfortable like this." Ed said to them. "Same here. It's kinda cramped here... You know... With the three of us tied up like this." I said to him.

"And it looks like we're headed directly for Dublith, too." I stated to them. "I'm kind of surprised. For some reason, I always figured your alchemy teacher to be some old crone, but she's a beautiful lady." Winry said to me. "How are you surprised? You met her years ago, Winry." I said to him.

"We first became her students in Resembool, back when we were kids." Al said. "I don't remember that." Winry said to her. "Sure you do, Winry. It was that day it wouldn't stop raining." Al said to her.

*Flashback Begins*

The three of us are walking home after the day is over. "ECW, 26%, ICW, 34%, lipids, 19%, and protein... um..." Al trailed off. "This is dumb! Maybe we'll learn faster if we start with human composition." I said to the two. "Why are you guys studying so hard all the time? What are you up to?" Winry asked us as we faced her. "Can't tell." The three of us said to her as Ed runs off. "It's none of your business, Winry!" Ed said to her. "No fair! You guys are always hiding stuff from me!" Winry cried as Al ran off.

"See 'ya!" Al said to her. "Later!" I said to her as I ran off. "Hey! We're having stew tonight, don't be late!" Winry shouted at us. "Okay!" Al shouted out. "Thanks for the tip!" I shouted out also. "Great, Winry! See 'ya then!" Ed shouted out as well. The three of us kept on walking.

"Whoever invented stew was a genius. I mean it's got milk in it, but it still taste good." Ed said about what Winry said. "What are you talking about?" I asked him. "You know I hate milk, and normally you wouldn't putit in vegetable soup, but with stew, it works great! It's like being a good scientist, you have to think outside the box sometimes." Ed said to me. "Oh..." I trailed off

*FF*

We made it to their house, and we went through some books. "You know, we do have limits, Edward. There'sno way we can learn this whole thing on our own." I said to him. "I know." Ed said to me. "The missing step inhuman alchemy, what do you think it is?" Al asked him. "I have no idea. My question is why it's forbidden inthe first place." Ed said to him. "I guess because it's so dangerous, and no one's been able to do it right." Al said to him. "That's right, Ed. Remember that country they say "Died in a single night"?" I asked him as he sat up.

"You mean the story of the Philosopher's Stone in the eastern desert?" Ed questioned when he grabbed abook. "Yeah. Someone tried to make a complete human, and the whole population got dragged into it." I said to him. "That's just a fairy tale, Isabella." Ed said to me while he looks through a book he just picked up. But then he found something which made us look towards him.

"These are his formulas." Ed said about what he found. "Formulas?" I questioned him. "Yeah." Ed said to me asAl and I moved over to him so we can see. "If we could learn how to make sense of 'em..." Ed trailed off. "But, even if we could understand, transmutations that deal with humans are still forbidden." Al said to him. "We've already decided, Al. We're bringing Mom back, no matter what." Ed said to her. 'Oh no...' I thoughtto myself when it started raining.

*FF*

Rain started to fall, and Winry became scared at the sound of the thunder. "I just hope they can keep the river barricades in tact." Pinako said worriedly when the four of us faced one another, and we nod our heads. Then we head outside. "Kids, stop!" Pinako called out. "We're going to go help!" I said to her as we ran off, leaving Winry and Ms. Pinako worried. Several men are trying their hardest to keep the river away, but one of the mengot splashed by the water.

"This is bad. Hey, bring some more sandbags over here!" One man called out when he sees the four of usthere. Ed had a circle on the paper and I had mine on another also. "Here goes." Ed said to us. "Right." I said to him, as he and I used alchemy to create a rock barrier. We did it!" Ed said out of excitement. "All right!" I said out of excitement also. But then the rock barrier got destroyed by the water current, and it washed awayour circles. "The circles washed away!" Al said sadly.

"So now what?" Al said to one of us. "I don't know." I said to him. "Who's that?" One of the men questionedwhen the four of us turn to see a woman there, and I assume that her name is Izumi. "Stand back, this couldget a bit messy." Izumi said to them. "Look, lady. We can handle this." One man said to her.

"It's dangerous, leave." Another man said when her husband Sig blocked him, and he sweat-dropped. She then clapped her hands together, and used alchemy to create a giant barricade, making all the men look shocked in awe, including the four of us. "No way..." I trailed off in awe. "She didn't use a transmutation circle. And she moved all that earth all at once." Ed also said in awe.

"There, that should hold for a while." Izumi said after she stood up. "I can't believe it! Who in the world are you?" One man asked her as she faced him and the others. "Oh, just a couple passing by." Izumi said to himwhen she felt something coming, and she coughs up blood and passes out, leaving all the men shocked by this. "Where's your hospital?" One man asked her. "Somebody get a doctor!" Another man shouted out. "It's alright, lady, just hold on." Another man said to her.

(The Next Day)

It stopped raining and everyone is in Izumi's hospital room congratulating her on stopping the river formgetting near. "We can't thank you enough for what you did back there. The whole town of Resembool is inyour debt." One man said to her when the three of us moved one of the men aside to get us through. "Coming through." I said to the people. "Clear a path, guys." Ed said to them. "Pardon us." I said to them also. "Excuse us." Al said to them as well when Izumi sees us there. "Hey there, old lady." Ed said when she got madat the word 'old' and toss the bed aside, and we became scared at what she did.

"Some friendly advice, don't call me 'old'." Izumi said to us while we became scared at her appearance. "We're sorry, ma'am." Al said to her. "Forgive us, lady." I said to her also when we got on our knees. "We wanna be your apprentices, if you'll take us." I said to her as we smiled at her. "Apprentices?" Izumi questioned. "We can already do a little alchemy, but we need to know more." Al said to her. "We wanna be the best there is, with your help." Ed said to her. "No." Izumi said to us as we gasped. "But...but why not?" Ed asked her. "I'm not looking to take on anystudents, and besides I've got a store to run, I need to get back to Dublith." Izumi said to us as we grab onto her. "Please take us with you! Make us apprentices!" The three of us begged when she shakes us.

"Oh, shut up already!" Izumi said to us. "What are you try to accomplish by learning alchemy anyway? Just tellme that." Izumi said to us as we let her go. "Well... Um... We wanna help others out!" I said to her. "Do youhave your parents' permission?" Izumi asked us as we looked down. "Well, we... " I trailed off when Pinako came in.

"I'm afraid they have no parents." Pinako stated when Izumi faced her. "I've been looking after them sincetheir mother passed on." Pinako said to her as she faced us with stern lookson our faces. She then became in deep thought, and gave in.

"It always happens, I'm just too nice." Izumi said as she walks up and keels down to our level. "I'll give themone month. Do you mind if I take them with me for that long? I'll test them to see if they're even worthteaching alchemy to in the first place. See if they have the right talents." Izumi said to Pinako. "And what happens if you find out they don't?" Pinako asked her. "Then I'll send them back right away." Izumi said to her. "But what is we pass? What'll happen then?" Al asked her as she faced us. "Then we'll begin your alchemy training." Izumi said to us as we smiled.

*FF*

The three of us got on the train, and we decided to say goodbye to Winry and Ms. Pinako. "You guys realized we're not coming back in a month, don't you?" I asked them. "I knew you'd say that." Pinako said to me. Thenthe train leaves with us on it. "Training training!" Ed and I shouted happily. "Training training!" Al shouted happily also.

"I'll bet you guys there's a gigantic laboratory." Ed said to one of us. "You think we'll get to read a lot ofbooks?" I asked him. "Of course. How else are we gonna learn anything?" Ed said to me. "Oh yeah." I said as Ifaced our teacher. "Teacher, you did your alchemy at the river without a transmutation circle, didn't you?" Iasked her as she hummed.

"How did you pull that off? Are you a State Alchemist?" I asked her as she got mad at that word I justsaid. "State Alchemists are thugs who take an innocent life without blinking if someone gave the order!" Teacher said to me as the three of us are scared by this. Winry and Pinako looked out in the distance afterthe train left.

*Flashback Ends*

"Oh yeah. So you stayed with her." Winry said to us. "There." Ed said after he freed us. "Got it. Much better." Ed said when we can finally be free from that cursed rope. Then Ed opened the door. "Let's move out, guys." Ed said to us.

"Roger that." I said to him when I followed him, but we both got hit by our own watches, and we fell to thefloor. "Brother!" "Edward! Issy!" Al cried when the he became shocked after Teacher and Sig came by. "All that work, and you still haven't learned a thing, have you, kids?" Teacher asked when the two held our unconscious forms.

*No POV*

Breda and one of the soldiers are playing a game, and he sets his piece down. "Check." Breda called when the soldier gasped at this. "Hey, wait a minute!" One soldier said in shock . "That's the rule." Breda said to him. "Are you sure?" One soldier asked him. "So what's the story with that game?" One soldier asked the other. "It's a form of chess they got from the eastern island countries." The other soldier said when the phone rang and another soldier picked it up. "Hello? Yeah, he's here." The soldier said on the phone when Breda chuckles.

*FF*

Havoc is seen flirting with a girl. "Hey, that was a real fun time we had the other night, don't you think? I was hoping this weekend we could have an encore." Havoc said to the girl when the phone rang. "Please, let me get that for you." Havoc said to her when he picked it up and answered it. "Havoc here. Let's make this quick, I'm working on some important business." Havoc said on the phone when he hummed at what he just heard.

*FF*

Fuery had just finished fixing the phone. "That's it, it's all fixed." Fuery said to the soldier. "Thank you, sir." The soldier said to him when the phone he just fixed rings, and he picks it up. "Hello?" Fuery said when he began to hear every word on it.

*FF*

Hawkeye is in the shooting quarters and is doing target practice when the phone rings from behind her.

*FF*

Falman is in Mustang's office. "Please, sir, add me to the list, I'll do a good job." Falman begged him. "When you were with investigations, you worked under Hughes, right?" Roy asked him when a knock was heard. "Come in." Roy called. Fuery, Breda, Havoc, Hawkeye, and Falman are in front of Mustang's desk.

"Master Sergeant Kain Fuery, Second Lieutenant Heymans Breda, Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc, FirstLieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Warrant Officer Vato Falman. You five will be transferring to Central with me, ifyou have objections, get over them. That is all." Roy stated when they all saluted, and Falman saluted also.

Isabella's POV

After we left the station, we finally made it to town with the four of us still shivering in fear. "So much for ourescape plan." Al stated to us. "I know. I've got chills just thinking about what she's gonna do to us now." Edsaid to him in fear. "Yeah..." I said in fear. When a little girl ran up to Teacher. "Teacher!" The girl called out. "Hey there, Menny, so how's Chiko doing?" Teacher asked her. "She's gonnahave babies soon." The girl said to her when we saw her cat sleeping and pregnant.

"Goodness, your house is gonna be crowded." Teacher said to her. "Hey, Izumi! Welcome back!" We hear a voice call out and we turn and see Mason there. "Hey there, Mason." Ed and I greeted when we walked over to him. "That you, Edward, and Isabella? Haven't seen you two in a while!" Mason said when he walked up, laughing all the same.

"So you two have finally grown a little bit, haven't you?" Mason questioned when he patted Ed's head, which made us go mad at this one. "He loves to piss me off." Ed said to himself. "Same here." I said also when he saw Al. "So... Uh... Who's your big armored sidekick?" Mason asked us. "It's me, Mason. His little brother, Alphonse." Al said to him. "Uh... That's one heck of a growth spurt." Mason said about Al.

*FF*

We're now in Teacher's house, and having dinner with her. And I assume that my father didn't flirt with her, thank goodness, and I can't hate him for it. Then I turn to faced Ed. "Are you going to eat, Ed?" I asked him. "Ah, no thanks." Ed said to me. "Eat it now, Ed." Teacher said to him. "Yes, ma'am." Ed said to her. "Same goes for you, Al, it's really tasty." Mason said to Al. "No, that's okay. I'm full." Al said to him when he giggled a bit. Then we all started talking after we finished eating. "Wow, it sounds like you four have been on one brutal journey since you left." Mason said to us. "You shouldn't be getting into so much trouble." Sig said to us. "Well, it hasn't been all bad. We've helped out several people along the way, seriously. We even helped deliver a lady's baby a few years ago." I stated to him.

"Please, you call that 'helping'? We just ran around screaming our heads off, thinking she was gonna die." Ed said to her. "I guess so. But the point is, we did our best. It was like that old proverb: When a mother gives birth, she risked her life. And when the baby is born, everyone around her is blessed." Al said to him as well as everyone. "And I even tried my best to help deliver that baby years ago." I stated to them.

"Yes, that's true. I'm sure it was the same way when your mother gave birth to you. You kids should be thankful for the lives you have." Teacher said to us. "Hmm." I hummed. "And what about you, Izumi? Do you have a child of your own?" Winry asked her when Mason slammed his hands on the table and stood up. We were confused by his actions.

"Uh... I'm sorry... Uh... I was just, uh..." Mason trailed off when he faced Ed. "You and Izzy have improved your alchemy, right Ed? Can you show me?" Mason asked him. "Sure. If you want. Let's go." Ed said to him ashe stood up. "Okay." Al said also. "All righty." I said also. "I'll go, too." Winry said as well. As we all walked outside when Sig faced Teacher. "Izumi..." Sig trailed off. "I'm okay. They've witnessed another life come into this world, that's an invaluable experience for anyone to have." Teacher said to him.

*FF*

Al drew a circle on the ground. "All right, I'll start." Al said as he used alchemy to transmute a horse. "Hey, you have gotten better." Mason said in awe as Al giggled a bit. "Okay, my turn." Ed said when some boys came by and ran passed us towards Teacher. "Welcome back, Teacher." One boy said to her. "Yeah, welcome home."

Another boy said to her. "My train broke while we were playing, now it doesn't roll right. So, can you fix it?" One boy asked her. "One of the axles is broken. Okay, give me that." Teacher said when she grabbed something from one of the boys' mouths and used it on the train. "Come on, can't you just fix it using alchemy?" One boy asked her while she fixed the train. "No. You shouldn't rely on alchemy, all the time. If you can fix it with your own hands, then you should." Teacher said to him when she revealed the fixed train for him. "There you go, all fixed." Teacher said to him.

"Yeah, but now it looks really ugly." One boy said to her as she stood up. "There are uglier sights. In the future, if you want all your things to be so beautiful, then I suggest you don't break them in the first place." Teacher said to him. Then some footsteps are heard. "Bye, Teacher! Thanks a lot!" One boy said when they ran off.

"I'll be back if it breaks again!" One boy called out. "Let's try to keep it at once a day, please?" Teacher called out as we chuckled a little. "Teacher!" A voice called out when that same girl we saw earlier Menny ran up to her and panted for breaths. "What is it, Menny? What's wrong?" Teacher asked her. "It's Chiko, my cat." Menny said to her.

*FF*

A dog is barking up when Al scared it off. Then we all ran up to where the cat was. "The cat must be up there!" Father stated looking upwards. "I'm on it!" Ed said to him as he ran up. "Be careful, Ed!" I said to him. "Got 'ya!" Ed said to me as he climbed up to where the cat was. He sees that the cat is in pretty bad shape and one of the kittens rolls off, and he clapped his hands together. He used alchemy to create a giant hand to stop the kitten from falling. "Nice catch!" Winry and I said when he smirked at this one.

*FF*

After he got the cat and the kittens down, Father held the kittens in his arms and Teacher held the cat on her lap. "Chiko... Chiko..." Menny called when she looked up at her. "Uh, Teacher? Is Chiko broken somewhere?" Menny asked her as she shook her head. "No, Menny. Chiko's dead." Teacher stated to her. "But you can make her better, can't you Teacher? You can fix anything. You can fix Chiko, too." Menny said to her as we looked sad at this turn of events.

"No, I can't. Lives and things are different, and I'm not a God. Chiko's life has ended, and she isn't ever comingback." Teacher said to her as she tears up at her words. "But... She was... She was just here...!" Menny said toher sadly. "I can't bring Chiko back for you, Menny, but I can help you make a grave for her, okay. How doesthat sound?" Teacher said to her.

*FF*

Teacher already buried the cat, and Menny was mourning over her dead cat, but her kittens were with her. "Everything that lives has to die, that's the nature of the world. And when the body returns to the soil, flowers will be nourished, and bloom. A soul impacts other souls and lives on in other hearts. Everything in this world flows and circulates. That goes for human lives, as well."

Winry, Mason, and Sig are taking Menny home, leaving the five of us behind, but we'll catch up to them later. "Even for someone like me who has come to know so much on the subject, it's still difficult to make a child understand the actual nature of death." Teacher said when a gust of wind came by. "Teacher... Over all these years, have you ever wished you could bring someone dead back to life?" I asked her. "That's the second time you've asked me that, Isabella." Teacher said to me.

*Flashback Begins*

"I just asked out of curiosity!" I said as I panted for breaths, but Ed and Al were panting as well. "What's this gotta do with my question, anyway?!" I questioned as I charged at her and attacked her, but she dodged them. "The basis strength of the transmutation circle is the nature of the shape itself. The circle represents the circulation of power. By drawing it, that power can be evoked." Teacher said as she tossed the book up, and tackled me to the ground.

While Ed and Al tried as well, but they were sent flying. "By understanding the circulation of power, and the laws that govern it, you can harness it for yourself." Teacher said when Al and Ed fell, the book landed in her hand. Then she bandaged up our wounds.

"And one who works within this system of flow to create new things, That is the true alchemist." Teacher stated when she patted my head. "The world, all of us, followed the motion of a great current. Every living being's death is part of that flow, and reviving them would disrupt it. We mustn't do that." Teacher said to me.

*Flashback Ends*

The three of us looked down after we remembered that. "Al. That armor is empty, isn't it?" Teacher questioned Al as we looked up at her. "Ed. Your arm and leg are auto-mail, right?" Teacher questioned him. "Isabella. You never revived your parents." Teacher questioned me too.

"How'd you find out?" I asked her. "Your weight when I threw Ed, and when I threw you. The sound of his steps, and the sound of your feelings towards him, you thought I wouldn't 3 notice, you fools?" Teacher said as she faced us. "Teacher..." Al trailed off. "On the roof, he didn't use a transmutation circle, did he?" Teacher asked me as I looked down, while Ed did the same. Teacher then faced us.

"So go on, tell me, Isabella. Did he see it?" Teacher asked me. "Yes... He did..." I said to her. "How did it happen? Tell me everything." Teacher said to me as I was too nervous to speak, but I finally had the stomach to do it when Ed and Al remembered how their mother died.

"Teacher... I... Ed and Al... They..." I trailed off when the brothers remembered how their transmutation failed. "They transmuted... Transmuted their mother!" I cried out when she kicked me in the face, sending me flying towards a tree. Then she did the same thing to Ed by kicking him in the gut sending him flying, and Al being tossed to the ground. I sat up and she grabbed me by the collar. She slapped me across the face and hit me in the gut. Then the same thing to Ed and Al.

The whole beating kept on going until we fell to our knees in pain. Then I sat up and looked up at her with somuch pain I'm totally in. We all stand up, and we were getting ready for another beating, but she embraced usinstead.

The three of us are stunned by this when Teacher embraced us, and I can read her thoughts loud and clear thatit's okay to hurt. Al looked like he were gonna tear up, and Ed and I are just stunned by whatTeacher just pulled off. But he and I just closed our eyes and returned her embrace. 'I'm sorry, Teacher...' Ithought to myself as I hugged her back.

{Ending song}

Motherland/Crystal Kay