Title: A Fangirl's Dream
Summary: Ivy is no stranger to the 'Isekai' trope; her best friend writes fanfic for it all the time. She just never expected to find herself in one, let alone for a series she's never even watched. But between the alchemy, automail and lack of plot knowledge, crushing on the protagonist's love interest is about the dumbest thing she's ever done.
Pen Name: FanfictionIsMySideHustle

"Wanna be friends?"

It it was a lonely Friday at school with Austin at home sick with a cold when Akasha met her best friend.

Akasha, green eyes bleary and cheeks flush pink, looked up in surprise at the voice. The new kid? Sniffing and hunched forward, she hugs her knees closer to her chest. Vallant was a small city, the kind where everyone knew everybody or at least that was what Mom and Dad said. So small the high school and middle school apparently shared a building and it was definitely obvious whenever someone new moved in. Enter the new kid in Mr. Patterson's fifth grade class that Akasha only saw from a distance on the playground. But there the new girl stood in front of her, coily hair pulled into puffs on atop her head and a short sleeve Rugrats T-shirt. "Huh?"

"I said do you wanna be friends?" The new girl repeated blasé, as if Akasha crying by a tree close to school fence meant nothing. "I don't have any in my class yet. Wanna play on the swings?"

Anger surged through Akasha's tiny body, "no. I wanna go home. Leave me alone," she sniffed contemptuously, ducking her head onto her knees. The last thing she wanted right then was to play on the swings with a girl she didn't know.

The new girl didn't walk away though, opting to plop right down next to her. "I heard your brother is sick at home today, sorry," she murmured apologetically, springy fence moving as she leaned against it. "My mom always makes me a hot toddy when I'm sick, has your parents tried that yet?"

Warily, Akasha raised her head, one green eye looking at the girl beside her. "No? What'a hot toddy?"

The new girl grinned mischievously, "it has whiskey in it," she whispered as if she was telling Akasha the world's biggest secret. Akasha's eyes grew wider, sitting up in a flash. "Yeah, it's the one time my mom ever lets me drink any alcohol like a grownup. My mom says that it's supposed to make you sweat out the cold. Maybe your parents can make it for your brother and he'll feel better. I always do!"

"It's a hot toddy?"

The new girls nods cheerily, "yeah! But if that doesn't work, use Robitussin! Black people always use Robitussin because it works for everything."

"It does?"

"It's what my grandma says. And VapoRub too."

"I think we have VaporRub?" At least her dad slathered something across Austin's chest to help him breathe more comfortably in the night. Akasha's nose crinkled instinctively just recalling it. "But I'll tell him about the Robitussin and the hot toddy."

The new girl let out a breath of satisfaction, "it'll work and he'll be feel better in no time!" Despite never talking to the new girl before ever in her life, Akasha decides to believe in her and her confidence in the cure alls she mentioned. Hot toddy, hot toddy, hot toddy. Robitusin, Robitussin, Robitussin. The words are committed to her memory with each repetition. "What's your name?" Akasha asked finally, not even realizing the tears had stopped running down her face.

It's a question that makes the new girl lean forward, lips upturned, "I'm-"

"Ivy's mother called us just now. She said Ivy never came home."

At those words, Akasha feels her blood run cold and the ground moving under her feet. "Huh," she looks her lips, surprised at the sudden dryness. Hearing her father say it again does nothing to make his words any less confusing. Ivy Carter never made it home after school.

Dad grimaces, looking years older than he does typically. "I told Rose I'd talk to the two of you but she's understandably unsettled." He shares a look with Melanie that Akasha is sure means 'This is Vallant! Nothing like this is supposed to happen here!' "Austin," the lanky teen nearly jumps out of his skin at his name being called. "You and Ivy share a few classes, don't you? Did you talk about anything in particular?"

Akasha's twin shakes his head. He and Ivy barely even talk now, Akasha wants to seethe. She's my best friend; not his! Maybe there was once a time the three of them were a trio. The Maverick twins and Ivy Carter, that's who they used to be. Then the divorce happened and Austin spent more time in his room than with the two of them. He had his friends, Akasha had hers. "I saw her in the morning when we got to school," he sinks into himself meekly. Does he know the last time they even held a proper conversation was 6th grade? "But we don't really sit close to each other in our class and we didn't talk at lunch. I'm in B lunch, Akasha and Ivy are in A."

There's a lack of surprise on Dad's face but he is disappointed nonetheless before turning to Akasha to ask the same thing. "Was there anything that stood out about the last time you talked to her?" Dad presses and Akasha's throat clenches, uncomfortably tight and her underarms already feel the onset of sweat. "Did she say she was going anywhere specific? I know you two are close, she might have told you something specific."

Me

Oh there's this short cut Austin and I use in leif park!

Saison Marguerite

I'm changing your name in my phone 2 Saison Marguerite
But go pass that giant water fountain that's by the swings?
It's right past that
Ya can't miss it
Its pretty short!

"No," Akasha holds herself tightly, taking one, two steps backwards. "She didn't say anything at all." It's not my fault, her finger nails dig crescents into pale skin. It's not my fault! Her chest aches from how hard she breathes in, the world equally light and dark. It's an apartment complex, nothing bad happens in one of those! "She had volleyball practice so I went right home with Austin."

"Akasha, sweetheart?" Melanie's voice is sickeningly sweet, something reminiscent of artificial sweetener. Fake and high-pitched; it only adds to Akasha's nausea as she looks at her with plastic sympathy. "Do you want to stay home from school today?"

Shut up! Stop talking! Akasha can only make herself nod.

Dad pinches the bridge of his nose and releases a quick before smilingly lightly. "That's a good idea," he looks at Melanie with subdued fondness before turning to his children. "The two of you should stay home today. I know this is a lot to take in but don't worry," in his quick stride, the sturdy man wraps his children in his arms in a tight hug. "We're going to sort this all out. Ivy's a smart girl, cautious," he nods; Akasha isn't sure who he is trying to convince more.

In that moment, Akasha can't bring herself to care. With one arm, she hugs Dad just as tightly as if he'll disappear. It isn't my fault. It isn't.

"I'll call Rose and we'll go from there," Dad soothes, squeezing Akasha just as tightly in return. "I'm sure Ivy is just at one of her volleyball friends' house," he kisses Akasha's temple. "That's what they say about these things. Most of the time, the kid is just at their other parent's or a friend's house."

Then why wouldn't she come to mine? Akasha wants to ask him. I'm her best friend!

For the fifth morning in a row, Ivy wakes up to a wooden green ceiling instead of popcorny stipple ceiling of home.

Still in Resembool. Got it. Itchy as the wool blanket she received from Pinako may be, it is a preferable view than the unfamiliarity of home. She throws the blanket over her face with a disappointed groan. Either this is the world's longest dream or I'm really stuck in an anime, she says for what is likely the nth time since she arrived in this place. It has to be a dream, she'll ignore the frightfully cold wooden floor beneath her bare feet. Girls like me don't get put in anime worlds. I'd be sent somewhere. Like Avatar! I actually know stuff about Avatar!

Day in and day out those words come to mind; day in and day out, the dream hypothesis is proven wrong.

Food in her dreams has never been so vivid, she is reminded at breakfast as she munches on eggs and toast.

Smells have never been so vibrant, she is reminded in the afternoon when the scent of oil is particularly strong.

Then the evening once again rolls around and she is reminded at dinner that dream food can't be this realistic.

The sixth morning comes to her quite similarly as she washes the dishes after breakfast. I don't think I've ever dreamed of doing dishes, the warm water permeates her skin down to her bone. But if I have, this one takes the cake in terms of realism. "You're lucky you don't have thumbs, Den," she tells the black-and-white canine keeping her company. There's a particularly stubborn piece of dried malt that sticks to the pot that refuses to be scrubbed away. "Otherwise they'd have you doing dishes too." Dishes, she shudders. The bane of her existence.

A soft giggle nearly makes Ivy drop the plate in her hands, "you're probably right about that." Blue eyes twinkle lightly and pink lips are spread into a small but hopeful smile. "Sorry, didn't mean to surprise you."

"It's cool," Ivy releases her breathe she'd been holding. Winry is... nice. That's the best word Ivy has for the young mechanic. Winry Rockbell is simply nice and their routine interaction is also nice; at least in the way one regards a classmate they don't know very well. Starting over again is easier said than done, Ivy supposes. They eat breakfast together, sometimes lunch and then there's dinner. But I wouldn't say we really talk it up during that time either. And she's always tucked away in the workshop otherwise. It's where Ivy is sure the blonde just came from, judging by the the wafting scent of oil entering the kitchen. "You're not bringing me any presents, are you?" Ivy squints for any sign of additional dishes in Winry's hands. "Because if so, you can walk your ass right back to the workshop. The Carter Dishwashing Service is closed after I get done with this pot."

The dry comment pulls a smile a bit more natural out of the newest kitchen guest, "not this time." At that announcement, Ivy nods in contentment. "Granny might have some for you. She has a couple coffee mugs on her table that have your name on them if you don't hurry up." Ivy blanches while Winry snickers at her expression. "Don't worry, I'll wash those later after dinner tonight. Just don't bring me any presents."

Ivy salutes Winry vigorously, "you won't even see the world's tiniest spoon from me tonight."

"Perfect!" With that, Ivy turns back around with renewed vigor. Once I get this shit done, I'm gonna, her pot scrubbing motion slows. I guess I can try looking for that gate again. Six days straight Ivy has looked for it and six days straight, she's found nothing. "I was just thinking," Ivy blinks, realizing that Winry never left her to her lonesome and she looks over her shoulder once more. "What if you come out with me today? I don't think you've properly been back to town since you've been here." It isn't an incorrect observation. After her tour, Ivy felt seldom reason to stop in town when what she was looking for never appeared in it. "When you leave on your runs with Den, I've never seen you take the main road. I'm not spying or anything though," she quickly adds, moving her hands in a panic. "It's just easy to see from my window upstairs!"

"I didn't think you were," Ivy adds just as hurriedly. Both girls' mouths clamp shut in their awkwardness, not even Den offers any comfort. Of course the pup would choose now, of all times, to take a nap. "You're heading out to town?" She looks over Winry's outfit; her mechanic garb is still rests against her frame.

Winry nods, seeming self-conscious. "Sometimes I go to the blacksmith's to ask for any scrap metal for practice," she explains. "But I thought if you were bored and wanted company you could come with me. Or at least I could show you where the blacksmith's is. We don't actually temper the metal here since we don't have our own forge, so we deal a lot with them. They're a bit rowdy but they're good people!" Her shoulders relax and her eyes actually seem lighter, Winry fitting more and more into her skin the longer she rambles. "Of course, if we need anything specific we usually order from the folks in Rush Valley but it isn't like we have a lot of people wanting automail here," Winry laughs sheepishly, scratching at the fabric of her bandana. "But I could show you a few of the shops too, if you wanted. I know it's probably boring here with Granny and I working all the time. Resembool's not the most exciting place but I could try and show you some fun places."

The corner of Ivy's lips upturn, light, "yeah, let's do it." It's something different than the schedule she formulated for herself since her arrival. "Seeing the town sounds like it'll be fun. And I've never been to a blacksmith, so that sounds pretty cool. I'm surprised you guys don't have one, being automail engineers and all."

The blonde sighs, in disappointed understanding, "it's not actually necessary for an engineer to process their own metal," she explains. "It'd save on costs a bit if we had our own, but we do make more than enough money not to worry about it. Automail's a bit of- sorry, started rambling again," Winry turns half-way out the kitchen. "I'll let Granny know we're heading out soon!"

It was a good idea to tag along with Winry, that's what Ivy believed as she watched how the blonde smiles brightly and saying she'll let her grandmother know they'll be heading out. She still believes it now as they walk down the main road, the air between them the lightest it been in her near week of living with the Rockbells. Her step is lighter and she is practically humming. Pinako's pretty old so I doubt she goes to the blacksmith's a lot. "What's the forge like," Ivy leans forward by a hair, eyebrows raised. All she can imagine are Lord of the Ring-esque dwarves, hammering over an open fire, donned in dark gray armor.

Winry beams even more with an excited lean of her own, "it's pretty cozy! Everyone there's known each other for years, they're practically family. And they're amazing at what they do! Not to brag," she puffs out her chest, dainty nose pointed in the air. "Granny and I are their favorite customers!"

Ivy grins lazily, "it's not hard to be the favorites when you're the only engineers in town." This place is even smaller than Vallant. Ivy is sure that if it weren't for the Rockbells, the town smiths would be rather board. "What do they have to do on the regular? Mend leaky pots?"

"The details aren't that important, we're favorites regardless," Winry replies petulantly but she grins all the while. "But they do mend a lot of leaky pots." Ivy can't hold back a laugh at that confirmation. There goes any chance of this being like something out of Lord of the Rings. "You'll love it there too, Ivy. With your sense of humor, you'll fit right in. Well maybe not as much as me, all things considered. Because I'm the favorite."

"Eeeh I'm sure I'll be able to steal your crown by the time we head back to your place," Ivy puffs against her knuckles, mockingly unimpressed. It's nice seeing Winry's light eyebrows knit in playful competition, seeing how the blonde tresses not covered by fabric dances with her movements. "Do you ever get to the work forge when you're there?"

"They let me work it sometimes!"

"Think they'll let me?"

There's something in that question that does something to Winry that the newest Rockbell resident can't explain. If she had been smiling before, it has nothing on the way Winry is now Ivy blinks. This smile is sunflower bright and saccharine and the blue of her eyes is ocean bright, "do you really want to?" Ivy stammers out some sort of answer, it must be positive considering how Winry claps her hands together. "Then we definitely have to go there first! Mr. Braun is really nice, so he'll show you after he teaches you how to work safely. He usually only has me strike the metal, it's a really fun process."

The closest I've ever been to a forgery is imagining I'm a blacksmith after putting a hot pan in water. Ivy tells Winry as much and the girl laughs at her description. "That's exactly how it feels! It's not as great as being in the workshop, of course... I'd never say that."

Ivy snorts, amused. "The engineer always has automail on the brain. I can't say I'm surprised."

"It comes with the occupation," Winry defends herself lightly, but it is all in good fun. Ivy wonders the validity in that sentiment. Pinako's been an engineer longer than the two of them had been alive and she didn't seem as enamored with the craft as her daughter did. Or maybe Winry is a peak into the mind of a younger Pinako Rockbell and in her old age it shifted into something quieter. "Maybe you can watch me work a little when we get home," she looks at her new companion hopefully. Today had been lucky for the young Rockbell so far, why not push her it even further. "I said it before but I use scrap metal for practice since I can't use the good stuff, those are only for actual orders."

Ivy cocks her head to the side, "I won't be in the way? I kinda assumed I would be."

Winry shakes her head adamantly, "not at all! I'd really like the company," she adds, less emphatically. "It's nice having someone else my age at home."

Even if she doesn't mean to, Winry looks something akin to a small puppy. In the six days Ivy had been living with the Rockbells, Ivy hadn't seen one person Winry's age who stopped by to check on her. I can't say 'no' to someone when she asks like that. Nor does Ivy want to say it. "Show me the ways of the automail engineer," she nudges Winry with her elbow.

Her skin feels pleasantly warm where Winry nudges back.

Author's Note

Finally chapter 3 is here. Sorry for the long wait, guys, I was not trying to wait this long to update the story. 2 days after I posted chapter 3 we had to put down one of our cats which was the second to die in the month of July out of the four we originally had (two sets of bonded siblings). I'm sure you can imagine that I wasn't up to writing after that. I even ended up really throwing myself into the semester as a distraction. But I'm feeling better now and a lot more excited to write. So, here we are! Chapter 3 is finally here!

One of my AFD regrets was not spending a bit more time in Resembool and establishing more of Ivy's growing attachments to the place, so I decided to do that now. So lo and behold, our new chapter 3. I missed this story and the community around it, so I'm glad to be back and posting again. I also wanted to expand more on their first meeting and little things about Akasha's personality and their friendship dynamic a bit earlier too rather than saving it for later. Hopefully these are all positive changes old readers appreciate! And yes... my people swear by the Tussin and VaporRub lmao. Unbeatable combo, just add a hot toddy in the mix.

GFofGaara: This one's for you, dude!

Vedahzii: Yes, the first handful of chapters won't be changing too much. They're more like "remastered" versions of the originals. But I do want to have chapters with entirely new content as well spliced on in here. I hope you have fun reading the old and new stuff. As for Akasha... there will be some changes compared to the original vision I had of her but she's definitely going to be the same in a good portion of what you remember. Brace yourself for the cringe. She's cringe and free in all the wrong ways.

BloodStarGeneral: I'm back! I'm happy you picked this up again. There will be regular updates from now on now that my personal life has been sorted! I hope you enjoy seeing Ivy's adventure unfold again.

naedinefebruary2.0: Thanks so much for the kind words, I'm having fun rewriting this story!

Skullkingvon: On FFN, even if you delete chapters the old reviews will remain so all the reviews you're seeing are for the old chapters. They all just get slotted in as stuff for chapter 1.