Title: Alchemy through the Stars

Series: Fullmetal Alchemist/Sailor Moon

Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst

Rating: R

Author: Aeden Hale

Summary: Edward Elric is able to return his younger brother, Alphonse, to his original form at the cost of his own life. Edward is sent through the Gates to find his mirror in the world on the other side. Unfortunately, it isn't Munich, Germany in the year 1921. The Fullmetal Alchemist is transported to 1998 Tokyo, Japan. What will happen when he meets up with Tokyo's famous warriors? What's this, Edward can still use Alchemy?

Prologue: The Gate is Opened

A large stone gateway stood before him. He kept his head down; his blonde bangs falling into his eyes. He wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen at this point. He'd sacrificed himself to return his younger brother, Alphonse Elric, to his natural state. Raising his head, his amber eyes gazed sadly at the gate. He had no other alternative now but to move forward since there was no way to go back.

So this is it? He mused. I have to leave everyone that I care about to make the transmutation complete. At least I know that Al will be safe with Winry.

He stood completely still as if he were unsure of what to do. His black clothing suddenly felt ridiculously heavy on him. Even the braid that held the rest of his hair seemed to be weighing him down. Sighing, he took his first steps forward. The gates opened before him as if they were waiting specifically on him. He paused momentarily, unsure of what to do.

"Edward Elric, your destiny guides you through these Gates." A female voice beckoned to him. "You must follow your destiny."

Destiny? He'd never heard mention of this destiny before. Shrugging, the eldest Elric brother moved forward to the gate. What did he have to lose? As he made his way through the Gates, Edward noticed that their appearance had changed. Instead of the sandstone that they'd been made of before, the Gates were now a pure alabaster. The mists swirled around him as he cautiously made his way into this new place. The swift movement from his right caused him to stop in his tracks. A lone figure stood there with a staff in a defensive manner.

"Halt! Who dares enter the realm of the Gates of Time?"

***

Sensing a new presence in her domain, a pair of garnet eyes flew open in response. Flicking her dark green hair over her shoulder, Pluto held her staff a little more tightly. Then a smile settled on her face. The boy named Edward Elric was now in her realm. He was a year older than her princess, who was sixteen. The smile on her face widened as she saw him come closer. It would be appropriate to show this young man just what he was up against. The Time Guardian raised her staff and let herself be seen.

"Halt! Who dares enter the realm of the Gates of Time?"

The young man did as he was told. He watched her carefully as he also attempted to gain information about his surroundings. "My name is Edward Elric." He replied cautiously.

"Hai, I knew that." Pluto answered. "Why have you come here?"

"Wait a minute!" Edward interrupted. "Who are you? What is this place?"

"Patience, Elric-san. I'll tell you everything in due time."

A scowl settled on his face. "I don't know what you just called me, but I'd better find out something and soon." Placing his hands together, blue electricity danced around them. This seemed to surprise him.

"Ano, Elric-san, I'll tell you everything you need to know. I am the Senshi, or warrior, of Revolution. My guardian planet is Pluto. My name is Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time." She said, bowing politely. "You are presently at the Time Gates."

A puzzled look overcame Edward's face. "I don't understand. You're the guardian of this place? I sacrificed myself to bring my brother back to life."

"I know, Elric-san. I also know that you were a member of the military and have an arm and leg of an artificial substance called auto mail, if I'm correct. This gate that you entered was opened by your younger brother, who was the key. Am I right?" Pluto questioned.

Edward nodded. "How did you know?"

"I am the guardian of Time. I can see all. You also want to know why you can still use Alchemy, ne?" Another nod from Edward. "This place is where your mirror is, your other self. You are to be sent to a place called Tokyo in a country named Japan. The year is currently 1998. The young warriors that exist hear use magic much like your Alchemy, so that is why you can still use it."

"These warriors you're talking about, when will I meet them?" he asked.

"Hopefully not for a while, Elric-san. There has been a prolonged period of peace here, demo, I'm sensing a negative energy heading toward this planet. I will inform the hime-sama when I bring you to the city." Pluto explained.

"The what?" Edward questioned, tilting his head to the side.

"The princess that I serve. Serenity-hime will be very disappointed. She does so hate to fight." Turning to go, Pluto motioned for him to follow. "I'm sure that she would love to make a new companion. I will station you with a job and some clothing to fit this time period. The rent for the first month is paid on an apartment in the city. Onegai, change your clothes quickly, Elric-san and we'll go."

A crimson light overcame her and a lavender skirt and jacket suit replaced the short-skirted sailor outfit. She waited patiently with her back turned as Edward changed his clothes. A pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a jean jacket replaced his black uniform. He kept the white gloves on his hands. He adjusted a dark pair of sunglasses on his face as he moved to follow Pluto. A smile played its way across his lips and Edward knew he would like it here until he could get home.

***

"Rei-chan, you're so mean! Why can't you just listen to me for once?"

"Because, Usagi, you always get us into trouble!"

"Rei-chan, Usagi-chan, onegai, calm down! We're not going to get anywhere fighting like this." A blue haired girl commented.

"We can handle it, Ami-chan!" a raven-haired girl and a blonde shouted at the same time.

"Minna!" another blonde interrupted. "Why don't we just go swimming and then go to the arcade? It's too hot to do anything outside besides that."

A brunette with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail nodded. "That makes sense, Minako-chan. Let's do it!"

It was the beginning of July and a Saturday after class was over. Temperatures in the low to mid 90s weren't strange in Tokyo at this time of year. The five girls lay in various places in the young miko of the Hikawa Shrine's room. Hino Rei, Kino Makoto, Aino Minako, Mizuno Ami, and Tsukino Usagi were rather drowsy from the intense heat of the day.

"Oi, maybe we could stop by the race track and say hello to Haruka-san and Michiru-san." Makoto suggested.

"Hai! We haven't seen them in forever!" Usagi exclaimed.

"Usagi-chan, I'm afraid your visit to Haruka and Michiru will have to wait." A voice came from the door. All five girls turned to see the owner.

"Setsuna-san!" Usagi cried. "Have you come to visit us too?"

The Time Senshi shook her head. "Forgive me, Usagi-hime, demo, we may have another enemy attack on our hands. I've felt a strange force coming toward Earth lately."

Rei was about to comment on this when she noticed a figure shuffling around behind Setsuna. "Setsuna-san, dare mo?" she asked, pointing.

"This, minna, is Elric Edward-san. He's come to…help…with the current situation." Setsuna told them.

Usagi's curiosity got the better of her and she sprang to her feet to see this new person. Setsuna stepped aside to reveal a boy about her age and an inch or two taller than her. His blonde hair was pulled into a short braid that barely passed his shoulder blades. What amazed her were his amber eyes. She'd never seen eyes that color before. Her mouth got the better of her this time.

"You're really short." She commented simply.

Edward's eyes narrowed as his eyebrow twitched. "And your hair is really weird, meatball head."

"Nani! You're very rude, do you know that?" Usagi retorted.

Rei snickered at her princess's expense. "He's right, odango atama."

"Yeah, what she said." Edward repeated.

Usagi fumed as she stuck her tongue at him. "I bet Mako-chan is much taller than you, Ed-baka."

Edward stuck his tongue out in response. "I don't care! I don't even know your name and you're still insulting me!"

The moon bunny stopped short. "Oh yeah." She commented with a nervous laugh and extended her hand. "Watashi wa Tsukino Usagi-chan."

"Usagi, huh? That's weird." Ed commented. "I'll just call you meatball head. It's a lot easier."

Minako took this opportunity to slide up next to Ed. She had a sly look on her face as she focused on Usagi. "Hi, Ed-kun. My name is Aino Minako-chan. Has anyone ever told you how good looking you are?"

Ed gave Minako a disbelieving look. "Uh, no. Has anyone ever told you how weird you are?"

Setsuna covered her mouth with her hand in an attempt to stifle her laughter. She managed to control herself when she saw the raven-haired miko studying the boy. "Rei-chan, can you do a fire reading?"

"Hai." Rei replied, nodding.

They all moved into the great fire's chamber. Ed shrugged and followed them, making himself comfortable on a cushion. Rei sat before the fire that was blazing. Placing her hands together, she moved her fingers in a series of movements that turned out to be too quick for Ed to follow. Shaking his head, he continued to watch. The miko began chanting words that were unfamiliar to him. The chanting increased in speed as she continued to concentrate. It was suddenly that she stopped. Ed leaned forward to wait for what happened next.

"There is an increasing darkness. I see youma filling the streets and the Senshi are nowhere to be found." Rei told them. She let out a gasp. "Minna, I see Usagi. She's fighting the youma as Eternal Sailor Moon. There is more than one. They're collecting around her. I see a man there. He's commanding them. Yameru! Yameru! Usagi!" The miko fell forward, her face covered in sweat.

"Rei-chan, doushita no?" Makoto asked, helping her sit up.

"Usagi's star seed was stolen. The man, he took it. He crushed it in his hand. She was lying there and her eyes were dull. She was dead."

All gazes shifted toward Usagi. The blonde bunny fidgeted from her cushion. She refused to meet any of their gazes. It was Setsuna who noticed the anxiety in her princess. The guardian of time rose and knelt down beside Usagi, placing a hand on her shoulder. The small girl refused to look up at her.

"Usagi-chan, Daijoubu ka?"

The girl looked up with cloudy eyes. "Setsuna-san, how long do we have before we have to fight again? How long until everyone is fighting for me again?"

Setsuna shook her head. "I'm not sure, hime-sama. No more than two weeks."

"Minna, you can't smother me this time. I can take care of myself." Usagi said quietly as she looked at each of her friends. Her gaze stopped on Ed. "Ed-kun, gomen ne. You came at a bad time. We're about to go back to war."

Ed stared at Usagi and waved his hands in front of him. "Look, I don't blame you. I'll help you in whatever way I can. I won't let you get hurt by some psycho, princess. I was a dog of the military, I can protect you."

Usagi smiled gently at him. "Arigato, Ed-kun. We still have some time before the first attack, so we should all try to relax until then."

"Demo, Usagi-chan! If we're not ready and the enemy takes us by surprise, this planet could be lost." Makoto protested.

"Mako-chan. Were we prepared when Beryl attacked? Were we prepared when the Death Tree took root? Were we prepared when the Dark Moon Family tried to ruin the future? Were we prepared when Nehelenia invaded our dreams? Were we prepared when Chaos and Galaxia stole our star seeds?" she asked quietly.

Ami nodded. "Usagi-chan is right. We've fought so many wars that we're strong enough Senshi by now. We will win this war. We just have to work together."

"Ano, Ami-chan, do you think the Starlights will help us?" Minako asked with a wink.

"Iie, Minako-chan. Besides, they're rebuilding their own planet. We've got Ed-kun to help us. Other than that, we're alone this time."

Rei obtained an evil twinkle in her eye. "Hai, Usagi is looking forward to seeing Seiya-kun again. It's obvious that she cares for him."

"Urusai, Rei-chan!" Usagi blurted, crimson tinting her cheeks. "Seiya is one of my very best friends and he helped me through the worst of times even though Taiki-san and Yaten-kun forbid him to see me and Haruka-san and Michiru-san forbid me to see him. That's all, Rei-chan."

The others watched after their princess as she rose to her feet quickly and left the Great Fire's chamber. Ed sat on his cushion, utterly confused. These girls were nuts. He also stared after the meatball headed girl. She was reacting to her friend's teasing a little too seriously.

"Uh oh, I think you hit a nerve, Rei-chan." Makoto commented.

"Someone has to toughen her up." Rei huffed indignantly. "Why shouldn't it be me?"

"She's had a rough time since Mamoru-san's gone back to the United States. The college sent word of his disappearance, demo, I'm not going to be the one to tell her." Minako stated.

"Mamoru? Is he Usagi's boyfriend?" Ed asked, still confused.

"Hai." Ami replied. "He's attending a college in the United States, demo, he's disappeared recently from the campus and no one has been able to find him. Usagi-chan doesn't know anything about this."

Ed blinked incredulously. "This is serious and you haven't told her. Sure, the meatball head is a little ditzy, but she deserves to know. This guy is obviously important to her. If anything like that happened to my brother, Al, I'd want to know immediately."

"You don't understand, Ed-kun." Rei stated. "The last time Mamoru-san left before Galaxia's attack, she fell apart. Seiya-kun was the only one who took her mind off of him for a while and she was happy again for a short time."

The blonde state alchemist nodded his head, still not understanding fully. He couldn't understand why Usagi's Senshi were lying to her. If her boyfriend meant that much to her, wouldn't she do something stupid when she found out he was gone? Ed rose to his feet and moved to leave. It was Makoto who looked up and saw him.

"Where are you going, Ed-kun?"

"I need some air. This is a lot to take in." Ed replied.

The girls watched as the young man they'd met not half an hour ago stood and exited the temple. Could he really help them with the upcoming battle?

***

Usagi sighed as she buried her face in her arms. Couldn't Rei stop teasing her for just this once? Things were getting serious. More than that, they were getting dangerous. The blonde bunny heaved another sigh. Mamoru was gone this time as well. Something inside told her that he wasn't coming back this time. Perhaps he'd found another in America. Perhaps he just didn't want to return to Japan. Tears of frustration crept down her cheeks as she raised her head to stare out at the river. She wouldn't let the others see her cry.

"There you are, meatball head." Came a voice from behind her. "I was wondering where you'd gotten to."

Another sigh escaped her as she registered the person as Ed. What did he care if she'd run off? Ed wasn't exactly the first person she wanted to confess her problems to. She remained quiet, hoping he'd take the hint and go away. Unfortunately, he turned out to be much like herself, oblivious to subtle hints. When Ed moved beside her at the bridge, Usagi looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. The goofy smile on the young State Alchemist's face was wiped clean. Concern was plastered all over his features.

"What's wrong, meatball head?" he asked.

Usagi wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. "Gomen ne, Ed-kun. I just couldn't take Rei-chan's teasing. With this new enemy coming, I have enough to worry about."

"It seems like she really cares about you, Usagi." Ed replied. "In fact, I bet they're all really worried about you right now."

"I don't know, Ed-kun. Rei-chan is probably thinking up more insults."

Come on—what was it she called you?"

"Odango atama?" Usagi offered.

"That's the one! Come on, odango. Cheer up. Do you like ice cream?"

The blonde bunny blinked as she sniffled one last time. "Hai, doushite?"

"I don't know what that means, but I'm guessing that it's good. Let's go!" Ed concluded.

As they made their way down the street, the State Alchemist stopped by a hedge and began removing his jean jacket. Usagi swore that she saw a glint of something metal in the sunlight. Ed pulled a long-sleeved red overcoat with a hood onto his shoulders. He turned around and continued up the street. She noticed a funny symbol in black on the very back of the coat. Cocking her head to the side, Usagi studied it.

"Ed-kun, what is that on your back? I've never seen anything that looks like that."

The blonde boy stopped and waited for her to catch up with him. "It's my teacher's crest. It proves that I've learned all I need to know from her."

Usagi nodded. "Why do you wear those gloves? It's the middle of the summer."

Did this girl not know when to quit? Ed rolled his eyes as the question hit his ears. Setsuna had never said anything about her princess being so curious. "Do you ever shut up?"

"Oi! I don't know, do you get any taller?" Usagi shouted. "Have you always been that short?"

Ed whirled around with a savage look in his eyes. "Are you calling me the Guinness Book of World Records kind of shorty!"

"Maybe I am! It's not my fault that you're almost as short as me!"

The blonde state alchemist turned back around and grumbled as he continued up the street. Usagi caught up to him and quickly grabbed his arm as she began to steer him in a different direction. Ed looked up to see some sort of restaurant in front of them a short while later. The Crowns Fruit Parlor must have been her favorite place to go.

As they entered the small boutique, Ed noticed that it was relatively empty. There was a section apart from the booths that was made for some other type of entertainment but he wasn't sure what. Usagi quickly let go of his arm and bounced over to the counter. A sandy-haired man caught sight of her and smiled.

"Usagi-chan! It's been a while since you've been in." he said cheerily.

"I know, Motoki-nii-san. I've been busy." Usagi admitted sheepishly.

Motoki peeked around her at Ed, who now had his arms casually resting behind his head. "Who's your friend? I don't think I've seen him around before."

"Oh, Edo-kun isn't from around here. He just moved here and I'm showing him around." Usagi answered smoothly. Ed was surprised at how well she could invent stories.

"Well then, enjoy yourselves! The ice cream's on me today."

"Arigatou, Motoki-nii-san!" Usagi exclaimed.

She promptly began bouncing to the nearest booth leaving Ed to follow her. He grumbled something as he sat in the seat opposite of her. Usagi played with a strand of hair a bit uncomfortably as he stared out the window. This place wasn't so different from Central. In fact, Ed expected to see the familiar blue uniforms of the military move past the window any second. He expected to see Havoc buying cigarettes from a convenience store nearby. Hell, he even expected to see Al and himself running away from headquarters as fast as they could and hopping the next train to Risembul.

"I hate lying, Ed-kun."

The sudden statement caused him to look over and lock eyes with the blonde girl in front of him. "You can do it so well, though." He commented.

A hurt look passed over her face. "You don't know what it's like, Edo-kun. I'd sneak in late at night from a battle. Everyone else was asleep. I'd have to make up things to explain the bruises and cuts and other injuries I'd have the next day. It was the same way with all of us. Two years of that, Edo-kun. I hate it."

"I do know what it's like in a way." Ed stated. "In my world, we perform an art called alchemy. I guess you could call it a type of magic. Anyway, there are several rules to alchemy that are important, the two most important being 'to obtain something, something of equal value must be offered.' Equivalent exchange. The other was 'Alchemy cannot be used in the place of God.' Human transmutation is illegal. My younger brother, Al, and I didn't care. We didn't let anyone know what we were doing. We learned alchemy from our teacher and within a year we were back in our hometown of Risembul. Our mother had died several years before we learned alchemy. Our plan was to perform a human transmutation to bring her back. Al and I got all the ingredients found in the human body and for her soul, we both put in a drop of our own blood. The transmutation went fine at first, but then something went wrong."

"Al's body started disappearing. Soon he was gone. I was standing before a gate. There were hundreds of eyes staring out at me. It was like all the knowledge of alchemy was being shoved into my brain. When all the images and words stopped cramming into my mind, I heard a voice. I guess it was God. He said that I couldn't get all this knowledge without giving something in return. Equivalent exchange. When I woke up, my left leg was gone and there was blood all over the floor. Al was still missing. With the new knowledge I'd gained, I'd managed to draw a transmutation circle on the neck plate of a suit of armor we had. I was back in that strange place looking for my brother. The voices around me kept taunting me about equivalent exchange. I told them that I didn't care, that I just wanted my brother back. When I woke up again, Al's soul had been bonded to that armor and he was holding me in his arms. My right arm was gone now as well."

"He carried me to the home of our childhood friend, Winry, and her grandmother bandaged my wounds. Soon after that, I got automail for my missing limbs and Al and I joined the military in search of the Philosopher's Stone to return ourselves to our original forms. We lived knowing the sin we had committed. Al didn't see what we'd created, but I did. It wasn't human. It wasn't our mother. I've dwelled on our actions for a long time."

Usagi remained silent for a while. "Automail is metal, right?"

"Yeah, why?" Ed replied.

"I saw your arm when you were changing coats. I didn't want to say anything to make you uncomfortable."

Ed nodded, not really responding.

"Can I see it?" Usagi asked.

Ed pulled off the white glove on his right hand. He wiggled his metal fingers slowly. Usagi studied his prosthetic limb with fascination. The blonde alchemist turned his head away from her. His eyes widened and he turned back when he felt pressure on his hand. Usagi had laid her hand over his. A small smile had formed on her face. It was almost as if he'd been forgiven. Almost.

"You shouldn't be ashamed, Ed-kun. You wanted to see your mother again. No one can blame you for that."

The blonde alchemist looked at her in disbelief. Everyone in his world had told him what a sin he and his brother had committed and that he deserved to be punished. Now, this girl was opening her heart to him, not judging, and offering him her understanding. Edward didn't understand. Had she really seen so much that what had happened to him was nothing? Hell, Usagi was his age. He felt the continued pressure of Usagi's hand on his.

"So you have a thing for blondes too, Usagi-chan? Wait until I tell Mamoru-sempai." Motoki laughed as he brought them their ice cream.

Usagi blushed brightly as she gave a nervous laugh and jerked her hand away. "Motoki-nii-san, that's cruel! Ed was just a little sad for leaving his home. I was telling him not to worry."

Ed was about to protest when the blonde shot him a warning glance. He sighed instead and looked the other direction. Usagi was going on and on about where he'd come from. He knew that she hated lying to people, as she'd just explained, but it was far easier than the truth. Isn't that what he and Al had been doing to Winry over the past few years? Shaking his head, he noticed that the man named Motoki had gone and turned back to Usagi. She had cocked her head to the side as she watched him.

"What's wrong, Edo-kun? You seem uncomfortable."

"Just reminiscing I suppose." He said. "What is it that you're hiding from everyone? Don't they know that you're a princess?"

Usagi practically leapt over the table to shush him. Looking around in a panic, the blonde girl sighed in relief when she saw that no one had heard. "Please be quiet, Edo-kun. No one knows the identities of the Senshi other than their planetary names. That goes for me being a princess, too. Please be careful what you say."

"How can no one know that you're a princess?" Ed asked, skeptical.

The blonde sighed as she looked down at her ice cream. "It's a little complicated. I don't know if people believe in reincarnation where you're from, but that's kind of the case here."

Edward raised a golden eyebrow. "What does reincarnation have to do with anything?"

"Everything, Edo-kun. I'll make this a short story since it could be much longer. I was the princess of a kingdom that existed over a thousand years ago on the moon. An evil being called Metallia rose up and brought war to us and the other planets. The senshi that you met today and I were killed in the war. My mother, Queen Selenity, used the last of her life to send us a thousand years into the future in hopes of a peaceful life. That didn't quite work out." Usagi explained.

"I guess that's why Setsuna still calls you princess. So no one else knows about this past?" the blonde alchemist asked.

Usagi shook her head. "My parents don't even know about me being Sailor Moon."

"You sure have weird names here. What's a Sailor Moon?"

"Sailor Moon is the sailor senshi of the moon. She fights evil and protects this planet. I'm Sailor Moon." Usagi explained.

Edward felt himself getting a headache. This was too much to handle in one day. What he needed was nap. Speaking of nap, Setsuna had yet to show him where his apartment would be. As if on cue, there was a buzzing that came from his back pocket. Jumping out of his seat, he pulled out an object that looked like a black wrist watch. Seeing that he didn't know what to do with it, Usagi snatched it from his grasp and made sure that no one was watching.

"Hai?"

"Hime-sama?" came the voice from the other end.

Usagi giggled a bit. "Ne, Setsuna-san, I didn't know you gave Edo-kun a communicator."

"I gave him one so that we could get in touch with him quickly and at any time. I see that you're still with Edward-san. Why don't the two of you meet me at the park? I'm sure he'd like to know where he lives." Setsuna said.

"Hai. We'll be there soon. Ja ne!" the blonde chirped, turning to Ed. "Well, it looks like Setsuna-san is ready to show you your new home. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

~*~

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