A/N: SO. I know that I should probably be working on my other story (coughONLYotherstorycough) but I had MAJOR writers block for it and I also spent half the summer in Korea with no wifi doing Tae Kwon Do training. In 40-something degrees Celsius. So yeah. But then while I was reading "Truth Revealed" by Fallen Crest today, which, by the way if you haven't read yet you should go read, I was inspired by a comment in one of the chapters by Havoc, where he says: "Never meet Chief and Al? Sounds like a boring time." So here it is. Also, just a warning. Some parts might be slightly different to what you might know from the anime because I might sorta blend in parts from the 2009 anime.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist
Summary: In another world, a certain letter never managed to make its way into the hands of a certain then-Lt. Colonel. In this world, a certain Elric brother never joined the military, but still managed to change just as many lives. How will things turn out after this new change of events, with the same people, different relations, and whole new perspectives?
Chapter 1: The Divergence
It was a simple accident.
That day, the poor mailman could have gotten more sleep in a different universe, but in this case, it was unfortunate that his neighbors had held a late-night party the night before, thus making him get less sleep. So, it was with a tired countenance that the mailman went about his job of bringing various letters to their destinations. Through his sleepiness, he didn't notice one small, insignificant letter slip out of his bag and fall onto the ground.
In another place, this letter would have made its way into the hands of a certain Lt. Colonel in the Military, prompting him to go to a small backwater town in the country in search of what he would think is a promising alchemist. In that place, the Lt. Colonel would succeed in his endeavor to recruit that person into the military, thus changing millions of lives. But that wouldn't happen. And so, Fate changed, and Destiny set out a new path ahead.
"Brother, there's something strange here."
"Al!"
"It can't be…a rebound?!"
"Brother! Ed! HELP!"
"AL!"
White. Blankness…A gate?
-Hello-
"Who are you?"
-Oh, I'm so glad you asked that! I am called by many names, I am the world; I'm the universe. I'm God; I am Truth. I am all, I am one, and I am also…you."-
handsdarknesslightpicturesmomdadalpainpainpaINPAINPAINPAIN
"Stop! It's too much make it STOP!"
Woosh. Blankness once more.
-How was it?-
"Yeah. My theory wasn't wrong. But it's missing something. What I seek was just ahead…the truth about human transmutation. Please, show it to me again!"
-I can't I can only show you this much for the toll you've paid-
confusion
"Toll?"
-Yes, toll-
Shockrealizationhorror
-It's the law of equivalent exchange, right, young alchemist-
whitewhitewhitePAIN
"AAAH!"
Frustrationsadness
"Damn! This can't be happening!"
desperation
"It wasn't supposed to…damn it all! It's been taken away!"
tearstearshope
"Help! Someone! Mom! Mom..."
horrordisbeliefnononoNONO
"No…this is wrong…this isn't…this isn't what we wanted! Al…Alphonse…Alphonse! ALPHONSE!"
tearsanguishsadness
"This is all my fault! Alphonse!"
Clatter. Armourhopedetermination
"Damn it. Damn it!"
bloodmetalarray
"Give him back! He's my little brother!"
tearsangerfury
"Take my leg! Take my arm! Take my heart! Anything!"
"You can have it! Just give him back! …He's my only brother!
Clap.
Determinationangerhopedetermination
"He's all I have left!"
blueblueblueblack
Chirp chirp.
The sunlight filtered through as eleven-almost-twelve-year old Edward Elric sat in his wheelchair, looking out the window of his room on the second floor of the Rockbell house. A book lay on his lap, numerous pages filled with drawings of different focus. Some were of another boy who looked very similar to himself, with the same gold eyes but shorter sandy-blond hair, unlike his own hair that went to his neck and was the color of gold and the sun itself; this was Ed's younger brother, Alphonse Elric. On other pages there were pictures of other things, like simple objects that could be found around the house, or small animals such as birds or squirrels.
It had been three-almost four months since the day of the…Transmutation… had happened. Edward had been doing nothing but staying in and just outside the house, recuperating from his lost limbs, as well as exploring his newfound hobby and talent of drawing/painting. Meanwhile, Alphonse could always be seen out and about the Rockbell residence, busy doing menial chores such as chopping firewood or repairing other things. People would stop by in the beginning, simply because it was unusual to see a suit of armor doing such things, but eventually people had started to learn not to mention the body, as it would lead to many unfortunate things.
Slowly after recovering, the boys had fallen into a state of semi-depression. Neither of them were exactly completely in the depths of despair, but neither were they back to their 'normal' selves.
It was on this sunny day that Ed felt an indescribable urge to go visit his childhood house, which neither Al nor him was currently living at right now.
So, moving to the other side of the room, Ed fixed his wooden prosthetic leg and arm onto his body, and walked down the stairs and out of the house.
Waving to the other people as he made his way through the town, he finally reached his destination. Mustering up all his courage, he opened the door on the front porch and stepped in.
XXXXXXXXXX
The house hadn't changed at all in the past few months of its vacancy. Everything was still in the exact same place they were on that day. So, he walked towards the stairs leading to the basement of the house, also known as his fa- that bastard's study.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Ed looked upon the Circle that he and his little brother had so painstakingly made, that was also the source of their pain. Eventually moving on, he started to head towards the only desk in the room, which still held many different reference books, notebooks, and journals on it. Ed picked up the closest book, which coincidentally was one of the bastard's journals that he and Alphonse had made many of their own notes in.
As he slowly felt an emotion that he could only describe as rage come across him, he through the journal across the room, letting out a shout of frustration.
Said book flew across the room, coming to a stop only as it hit a bookshelf, causing the journal and another book to fall onto the ground, open.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
Taking deep breathes to calm himself down after his fit rage; Ed regained his composure and walked across the room to pick up the books. Bending down, he noticed that the book that had fallen off of the bookshelf was a book called 'Known and Mythical Alchemical Artifacts: Written by Claud Duval*. Taking a look at the page the book had fallen open to, it seemed that it was about something called "the Philosopher's Stone". It read:
"The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary alchemical substance, also known by various other names such as 'The Sage's Stone', 'The Grand Elixir', 'The Celestial Stone', 'The Red Tincture', 'The Fifth Element', and others. Just as the Philosopher's Stone is called by many names, it can also take on many forms, not necessarily a stone. The stone is said to be capable of turning base metals (i.e. lead) into gold or silver. It is also believed to some people to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly immortality. In the early times of Alchemy, it was the most sought after goal of many alchemists, but it later faded into simply a folk legend after thousands of people failed to even manage a glimpse of the Stone. The Philosopher's Stone is also thought to be a transmutation amplifier, able to increase the alchemist's capabilities by at least ten-fold, as well as allowing the alchemist to bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange."
After reading it, Ed could do nothing but reread the last part of the paragraph in his head, over, and over, and over.
'allowing the alchemist to bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange.'
'bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange.'
In a fit of sudden excitement, Edward shouted out:
"There might be a way to get Al's body back!"
With the newfound book clutched tightly in his hand, Ed ran out of the basement of his house and towards the Rockbell's.
Running up the steps to the front door, Ed shouted for his brother.
"AL! Alphonse! Get over here! I found something you should see!" He slammed the door open.
"Calm down Brother. And don't slam the door like that." Al said as he came down the stairs. "What is it?"
Excitedly, Ed told his brother about what he had found. "I think this might be a way that we can get your body back!"
Alphonse was shocked. He could feel so many emotions as he thought about this new discovery his brother had made. Astonishment, happiness and excitement filled him as he smiled at his brother and said:
"You mean our bodies Brother. We're getting back your arm and leg too." Ed smiled back, "Yeah."
Behind the door leading to the next room, Pinako smiled. 'It seems like the boys are finally getting back to their old selves.'
And so, Destiny and Fate remained the same, but the world changed.
*Claud Duval was an actual alchemist from Europe during 1643–1670
A/N: And this is it for the prologue of Different Path, Same Destination. Thanks for reading, and please review. I would love to know what you think of this and any recommendations to the story are welcome. Constructive Criticism is welcomed and any flames will be used to roast marshmallows and make smores. :D