All is one, one is all. If you die, the world will just continue to move on. It will have accepted your death as a part of a cycle, and so it moves on. The cycle is never ending, so do not think that you affect it. You are a small part in the world's master plan.

That is the way of Alchemy, and this is my story.

~~~Chapter one~~~

I sat in the car, momma and dad rambling on about something. My twin sister sat beside me, reading a book of some kind. I sighed, taking out my sketchbook again. Staring at my realistic replica of my father, I smiled slightly.

"Erika, Why don't you help Uncle Al when we get there? I'm sure he'd love to hear what you've learned about Alchemy so far." My dad spoke up, looking to me in the rearview mirror. I smiled brightly.

"You know you don't have to ask! I love Uncle Al!" I smiled, quickly flipping the page in my sketchbook. I started to draw Uncle Al immediately.

"Edward, you put to much pressure on Alchemy." Momma rolled her eyes, patting his hand. He smiled, stroking her cheek lovingly.

"And you Winry, put to much concern into an issue we've discussed." I saw my mom reach for her wrench on the arm wrest. I laughed.

"You guys are funny." I looked back to my sketchbook as they laughed. Suddenly Alexis piped up.

"Hey dad, what's Human Transmutation?" She placed her book in her lap, her finger carefully holding her spot.

My father didn't respond. Instead, he went completely still, his face going hard. Mother stiffened as well, her hand clenching his.

"Why do you want to know Alexis?" My fathers voice was hard and filled with fear.

"No reason. I read it in one of the books Uncle Roy lent me. I also read that it was forbidden, and that there hasn't been one single case of a successful Transmutation. I just wanted an explanation." Her face was soft, her golden eyes glistening with curiosity. At this point, she flipped her waist length, golden hair over her shoulder, absentmindedly putting it into a loose ponytail.

"Alexis, promise me you will never ask such a thing again. Do not read anymore of that book, and give it back to Mustang the instant you see him." With that, Alexis glared to him. I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Let it go Lexi. You really are a bookworm." I looked to her, giving her my most convincing playful smile I could muster. She smiled back, placing the book on the seat in-between us.

I pulled my short bangs out of my face, ruffling my short, spiky hair so it looked even messier. Alexis looked to me, then glancing to my sketchbook.

"That Uncle Al?" She leaned over, her head now close to my shoulder.

"Yeah, I haven't given it any detail yet though." I placed my pencil on the paper, ready to sketch away. Alexis laughed. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just that I wish I had half of your drawing talent!" She laughed, pulling away to sit upright. I smiled, continuing to draw anyway.

"So just ask Mr. Armstrong. I'm sure he'd be very happy of you showed an interest in it. He's helped me so much!" I smiled, looking down to my slowly improving Al sketch.

"Girls, get your stuff ready, we're here." I flipped my sketchbook closed, gathering my pencils and placing them in my book bag. I leaned forward, placing my chin on the back of Dad's chair. I smiled as he laughed.

"Over-excited Erika?" I smiled, kissing him on the back of the neck.

"You know me so well!" I laughed, leaning back as we neared Uncle Al. Before my dad could stop the car, Alexis and I were running towards Uncle Al.

"Hey girls!" He held his arms out, letting us run into them. We were both laughing, smiling as he messed up our hair. I didn't mind, but Alexis squealed and pulled away to fix it. Momma and Dad neared then, my Uncle letting us go.

"How are things Al?" My dad pulled him into a brotherly hug, and as usual, Uncle Al yanked his braided hair. My dad tried to catch his hand, but Al was too fast.

"Getting slow with old age, there Ed?" Al burst into laughter as Ed lunged for him. Soon they were in full-blown combat, with us cheering them on. I suddenly found myself in the middle of it as Al grabbed me for a shield. I was laughing so hard, I hardly even minded.

"C'mon Erika, teach Edward a lesson! He needs it!" Al spoke from behind me, his hands on my shoulder. I laughed, but I obeyed. I lashed out with my right arm, hitting my dad in the side of the neck gently.

"You'd really betray your own father?" He spoke with a smile, pulling away so we could line up. I smiled back, letting my book bag fall to the ground.

"If you can't betray your loved ones, you're screwed. So, yeah, but isn't that good?" I didn't get a response, just him lunging at me. I whipped around, dodging his kick with a spin. That gave me the advantage, as I was now behind him slightly. I kicked out, hitting his leg and sending him to the ground. The sound I heard however, was not that of a normal leg. It was an echoing metal sound, a few signs of squeaking as well. I froze immediately.

"Dad? Why did that sound like-" Just then Aunt May came out. Although she was four years younger than Al, she sure didn't act it.

Alexis ran to her, smiling wide. I helped dad up, giving him a questioning look. He stared back, his eyes full of more than one meaning.

Taking momma by the waist, they walked towards May as well. I followed with Al behind me.

"Hello Mr. Edward!" She smiled as he laughed.

"I thought I told you, you don't have to call me that. It's just Edward now." He hugged her gently, then pulling away so Momma could hug her as well.

"I just like the sound of it. And old nicknames die hard." They exchanged some more smiles, and that was when Al went to her side. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him.

"We also have an important announcement." He looked to May, and I could see the love swell between them. May smiled wide, then speaking.

"We are having a baby."

The reaction was classic. Momma squealed, hugging May immediately. Dad pulled Al into another hug, and soon, Alexis and I ran to May to give her our congratulating hugs.

After that, the hours went by quickly. Uncle Al and I sat out back, talking in depth about Alchemy. Alexis joined in later, but I could tell she was just trying to get away from the girlish squeals and motherly talk. Eventually dad came in, gesturing for Al to come and talk to him alone. I could tell by the look on his face, it was a very serious matter.

Deciding to follow them, I snuck into the hallway by the guest room they were in. There I could eavesdrop perfectly.

"Today, Alexis... My little girl.. She asked about Human Transmutation." I could tell then that Al had a very shocked reaction. "What can I tell a ten year old girl? I couldn't very well say that... I couldn't tell her my past, our past."

"I'm just surprised that they haven't heard about it in history class. And I am sure that other classmates must know their last name means something. I'm surprised that the students haven't told them yet. The girls are bound to find out eventually, so why don't you just tell them?" Al paused and I could hear my dad almost growl at him.

"Tell them what? That their father and Uncle lost their bodies by committing taboo and then somehow gained them back by defeating God?" His voice was a furious whisper, but that was not what I noticed.

My father had committed taboo? Human Transmutation! Was that why his leg sounded like metal? Was that why he said that Uncle Al hadn't really "recovered" from a recent accident? And was that why I could never tell anyone my last name without some sort of reaction like "So your dad was a State Alchemist? You know, THE State Alchemist?". All those times people had said that, I had just looked to them like they were crazy. I never knew dad had such a past... And now I figured it out by eavesdropping?

Without another thought, I whirled around the corner, standing in the doorway of the room.

"So you were a State Alchemist! You were the one who saved Amestris! Why wouldn't you tell me this! Let alone the taboo! Is that why you always hide your leg! And why, sometimes, you walk with a limp! Why is your leg metal! And the scar on your shoulder! Why wouldn't you tell me any of this daddy!" I could feel the tears running down my face, but I didn't stop them. I was to furious to even care.

Down the hall, I could hear Momma and May come rushing in. Alexis was following slowly after. But this whole time, I just glared to my Dad's face. He was looking at the floor, his hands clenched in fists. He eyes were cold and hard, his face was furious. Uncle Al, on the other hand, was completely composed. His hands were clenched, but he didn't show his anger.

"Alexis, you asked about Human Transmutation..." Alexis stepped forward, taking my arm. I could tell she was just comforting herself.

My dad sat on the bed, rolling up his pant leg and shedding his jacket. That was when we saw his Auto-Mail. His arm however was completely normal, except for the upper shoulder. That was completely scarred purple.

"This is the body of someone who was selfish, and who tried to gain his mother back." Dad's face went completely blank, his eyes filled with hell.

"Unlike your father, I lost my body completely. He affixed my soul onto some armor, and we went on a journey for over six years. I finally gained it back, but to do that, we lost so much... And we dragged too many in." Uncle Al glanced to Aunt May, my father to momma.

Alexis fell to her knees, dragging me with her. Momma came up behind us, her hands on each of our shoulders. Alexis was in shock, her tears starting as well.

"Daddy... I don't mind you not telling us, but why... Why? Why wouldn't you? And... Why couldn't you have..." I trailed off, unable to even think straight. My life was just turned upside down, and now I couldn't keep my feet on the ground. It felt like I was floating above earth, watching from heaven. I was having an out-of-body experience.

"I didn't tell you two, because your mother and I both agreed we'd never bring up the un-needed past. We didn't want to give you two more than you needed to know." Alexis looked up to him, her eyes glistening with tears.

"We could've handled it! We could've listened and not have said a word! But learning about it like this... Like some sort of curse, what the heck do you think our reaction would have been! If you didn't want us to have more than we could handle, then why didn't break it do us gently! Or at least better than this!"

I looked to her, reaching over to wipe her eyes. She glared to me, but then seeing the meaning in my eyes, she calmed down. She spread her knees apart, falling uselessly to the floor. Looking to me, she wiped my tears as well.

As I watched my parents, Aunt, and Uncle, I realized we both were being entirely too harsh. They all stared pointlessly, momma the only one looking to Alexis and I. May looked to Al, her face filled with worry. Dad was staring at his leg, his right arm held out on his lap. His face was filled with hate and anger, his eyes looked like they had seen hell. Uncle was staring at his hands, no doubt remembering his other body. And all this time, Alexis and I were concerned how it would affect us? I soon found myself running to my dad.

I flung myself into his arms, feeling the shock written clearly all over when I did so.

"Daddy... I don't care what you did. I was just shocked. I don't want you to hurt, I don't want to hurt you. I could care less if you were a duck chimera!" I squeezed around his neck, burying may face against him. "But don't ever do anything so stupid again! I don't want anything to happen to my daddy."

Dad wrapped his arms around me, pulling me so close it hurt. He buried his head against my neck, his shoulders then shaking slightly.

The whole room grew silent for a second, and then Alexis was in his arms too. He pulled us both close, his head still against my neck. Uncle pulled Aunt into his arms, and momma came to kneel behind Lexi and I.

"Erika, thank you. You have no idea how much I love you, how much I love both of you." He mumbled this into my neck, but it rang clear as crystal in my ears. Alexis mumbled something in his ear, but I didn't listen.