July 18, 1904
Reiko Hikawa sat cross-legged in her family's living room, watching the Elric brothers carefully transmute her "present." The warm summer breeze fluttered the edges of her floral-patterned top, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" she teased, brushing a strand of red hair from her face.
"Of course we do!" Ed said with a grin, his golden eyes gleaming. "You asked for a fox plush, right? Get ready to be amazed."
Beside him, Alphonse chimed in, "We've got this, Reiko. Trust us."
The transmutation circle glowed as the boys clapped their hands and pressed them to the ground. In a flash of blue light, a perfectly crafted fox plush appeared.
Reiko gasped, picking it up. "It's perfect! You two are incredible!" She gave them both a warm smile, her freckles crinkling with delight.
From across the room, Kuri, Reiko's older sister, joined in, hugging a duck plush the brothers had made for her earlier. Kuri's caramel skin glowed in the sunlight, and her long, dark brown hair framed her face like a curtain. She wore her usual red-embroidered shirt and capris, her pentacle necklace glinting against her chest.
"That's your first transmutation, huh?" Kuri said, holding the plush. "Not bad for beginners, but don't let it go to your head."
Not bad'? That's all you've got to say?" Ed shot back, bristling.
"Well, it's not magic," Kuri replied, smirking. "Alchemy has its limits."
Ed growled. "At least we're not 'magic addicts' like you."
"Short-tempered and short," Kuri retorted, flicking his forehead.
"Who are you calling so small I could ride on an ant's back?" Ed shouted, fists clenched.
Reiko sighed and poured water over their heads. "Enough! Wash up. Dinner's almost ready."
Kuri wiped water from her face, glancing at Ed, who was fuming. Her smirk softened, and for a brief moment, her gaze lingered on him. If she was honest with herself, she liked his fiery personality—even if it was mostly directed at her.
Aug 12, 1904
The four of them lay sprawled in sleeping bags in the Hikawa main room, staring up at the hand-painted stars on the ceiling.
"When I get my own house, I'm painting stars on every ceiling," Kuri declared, her voice filled with determination.
Reiko laughed. "And we'll all be there with you, right? Friends forever."
"Not a chance," Al said, shaking his head. "We'll all get married, have kids, and move on with our lives."
"Never!" Ed said. "We're gonna marry each other! I'll marry Kuri, and Al will marry Reiko."
Both girls froze, their faces heating at his bold statement.
"Promise?" Kuri said at last, holding out her pinkie. Her voice was steady, but there was a flicker of something in her blue eyes—something even she wasn't sure how to name.
"Promise," Ed said firmly, linking his pinkie with hers. Across the room, Reiko and Al did the same, their shy smiles mirroring each other.
For a moment, the room was filled with laughter and quiet hope, and the future felt unbreakable.
Kuri choked on her laughter. "Bold of you, Elric. Don't I get a say?"
"You're not saying no," Ed countered with a smirk.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. Instead, she held out her pinkie. "Fine. Promise me one thing: if we're going to stick together, you'll learn something about magic. Alchemy can't solve everything."
"Deal," Ed said, linking his pinkie with hers. "If you teach me magic, I'll teach you alchemy. Equivalent exchange."
Reiko and Al exchanged their own pinkie promises, giggling softly. For now, their world felt whole.
Sept 3, 1904
"Mom, look what we made!" Al exclaimed, holding up a small, delicate sculpture he had transmuted. Ed held his own creation—a sturdy figurine of a fox.
Trisha Elric smiled, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "They're beautiful. You're so talented, both of you."
Ed saw the way her smile faltered, how her gaze lingered on the figurines as though they were more than just creations. After dinner, he stormed out of the house, Al close behind him.
"Why are you mad at Dad?" Al asked, his voice hesitant.
"He left us," Ed said quietly. "And he makes Mom cry. I don't care how great he was. I hate him for that."
Dec 12, 1904
"Mom?" Ed called, stepping into the silent house. He found her collapsed on the floor, pale and unmoving.
"Al, get a doctor!" he shouted, his voice breaking.
Kuri and Reiko arrived soon after, their grandmother Kaori following with medical supplies. While Kaori tended to Trisha, Kuri pulled the brothers into a tight hug.
"Ed, Al… make these words to your mom count," she whispered, her voice trembling. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned to Reiko, burying her face in her sister's shoulder. "Just… make them count."
The brothers knelt beside their mother's bed, holding her hands as she opened her eyes weakly.
"I'm so proud of you both," she whispered. "Take care of each other. Always."
"Mom, we'll fix this," Ed said desperately. "We'll make you better."
Trisha smiled faintly. "Transmute… a ring of flowers for me?" Her hand fell limp in theirs.
The brothers sat at her grave for hours that night. "How are we going to live without her?" Al asked.
"We won't," Ed said. "We'll bring her back."
Feb 20, 1910
The circle was complete. Ed and Al knelt before it, their hearts pounding as they prepared to defy the laws of nature.
"Are you sure about this?" Al asked.
"We'll see Mom again," Ed said firmly, cutting his finger and letting his blood drip into the circle. Al did the same, and together, they pressed their hands to the ground.
The reaction was immediate. A violent light engulfed the room, and Ed screamed as his leg was torn away. Al's body vanished into the light.
"AL!" Ed cried, his voice raw with desperation. "Take my leg, my arm—take anything! Just give him back!"
When the light faded, Al's voice came from the corner of the room. "Brother… I'm here." The suit of armor moved, its hands clanking against the ground.
Kuri burst into the house moments later, her eyes wide with horror. "Ed! Al! What happened?"
Ed, barely conscious, pointed weakly to his brother. "Save him… please…"
July 13, 1910
Under the full moon, Kuri knelt beside Al's armor in a magic circle she had drawn with Ed's help. The air was heavy with tension as they prepared for something that had never been attempted: giving Al his body back for one night each month.
"I've altered the circle," Kuri explained, lighting the last candle. "Ed, your blood seal keeps Al's soul stable. I'll use reikohaidan to tether his body back temporarily during the full moon."
Ed nodded. "Let's do it."
The circle ignited with silver light, glowing brighter as Kuri chanted. Ed clapped his hands and pressed them to the circle, amplifying the energy with alchemy. The light swirled, engulfing Al's armor.
When it faded, Al stood there—flesh and blood.
He touched his face, his eyes wide with wonder. "I'm back," he whispered, looking at his hands.
"Al!" Reiko exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. He stumbled backward, laughing as he hugged her tightly.
"You're naked, you idiot!" Ed yelled, throwing a blanket at him.
Kuri watched silently, her hands trembling from the strain of the ritual. "It worked," she murmured. But when Ed looked at her, she saw the sadness in his eyes. They both knew that, by dawn, Al would return to his armored shell.
"We'll fix this," Kuri promised. "This is just the beginning."
July 15, 1910
"You really don't need to do this," Ed said as Kuri worked on attaching his new automail. "I can pay you—"
"No," Kuri said firmly. "Family doesn't pay. And you are family."
Kuri rolled up her sleeves, examining Ed's healed stumps. "I've been working on something new," she said. "Automail that mimics the nervous system. It'll feel like your real arm and leg."
Ed's eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"Maybe. It's biomagical engineering—alchemy and magic combined," Kuri explained, pulling out a blueprint. "But it's not ready yet. For now, we'll fit you with standard automail."
As she worked, her hands brushed against his. He froze, glancing up at her.
"What?" she asked, meeting his gaze.
"Nothing," he muttered, looking away. But his cheeks turned pink, and she couldn't help but smile. He looked up at her, his face red. "Thanks, Kuri."
She smiled softly. "Just don't give up, okay? We'll get your bodies back. Together."
May 3, 1910
Roy Mustang stepped into the Hikawa house, his presence commanding despite the casual setting. He handed Ed a folder. "You want to restore your bodies? Join the military. Become state alchemists."
"You're not welcome here," Kuri said coldly. "My friends are still recovering."
Mustang raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "You have talent, Elric. Don't waste it."
After he left, Ed looked at Al. "We're joining."
Kuri cursed under her breath. "Idiot. The military will chew you up and spit you out."
Ed smirked. "I can handle it. Besides, you promised to teach me magic."
"And you promised to teach me alchemy," she shot back. "Looks like we're both stuck with each other."
July 15, 1911
The house burned behind them, the flames lighting their path as they walked away from their childhood home.
"This is a new road," Ed said, his voice steady despite the pain. "For all of us."
"You gave me limbs, Kuri," he added, glancing at her. "Now it's time for me to start walking."
She fell into step beside him, her blue eyes shining with determination. "And I'll be right there with you, Ed. We all will."
Rei's hand found Al's temporarily flesh one behind them, and they all began to walk, together.