This is an edit to the Prologue's title, seeing as it was formerly "Chapter 1" when that already existed. I would copy the author's note but it really serves no purpose.

Prologue

The sun shown high above Central City, a large orb hanging in the center of a clear blue sky. A few clouds slowly glided in from the edges of the city, wispy and white. It was around noon and people were casually walking along the sidewalk. Apartments towered over the street, broken down with some lazily boarded up that housed nothing but rats.

"Ugh! Why do we have to report to that bastard on a perfect day like this?" A boy of fifteen grumbled, kicking at stones with his black leather boots. He wore all black with a red cloak billowing out behind him in the slight breeze. Long golden bangs hid his slightly flushed face and blazing gold eyes while the rest was tied back in a braid.

"Because the Colonel needs to know how our search is going. We happened to be nearby so why not stop over there real fast?" His companion, and younger brother, said in a soothing voice. He towered over his brother, wearing a large menacing suit of armor. Glowing red eyes peaked out of the helm, unblinking and watchful.

"We're wasting time! We should be searching for the stone!" The blond shouted, raising a gloved hand to tug at his hair, "If he wants to know how it's going he can come to us for once Al."

Al just shook his head, metal rattling against metal to echo inside the hollow suit. Edward could be so frustrating at times.

"Just enjoy the weather brother, it's a beautiful day." Ed looked up at the sky, sighed and glanced around the street. There was nothing that could make the city outskirts pretty. Scraggly people sat in alleyways begging for money while the more privileged walked by without even a glance.

Suddenly a loud scream sounded from a nearby alleyway. Ed craned his neck to see a woman lying on the ground, shaking as a man ripped the purse from her hand. The woman cried at him to give it back but instead got a swift kick to the ribs.

People still walked on, dodging the fight. Ed clenched his fists in anger, how dare people do that?

"Hey! Stop it you jerk!" The blond ran forward, his brother close behind him. The man looked up, fear in his eyes as he took the purse and ran into a boarded up house, darting like a rat through the slates. The woman struggled to get up and Al ran over to give her a hand.

"My mother's necklace! He took my mother's necklace!" She sobbed, standing up with her arm wrapped around Al's, "That was all I had left of her and it's gone!"

Ed and Al looked at each other, understanding in their eyes. With a sigh Edward forced a smile on his face.

"Don't worry; I'll get it back for you. My brother will stay here with you until then." Without waiting for a reply Ed ran into the same building the thief had.

The house was covered in dust, broken furniture and boxes littered the ground. Edward looked up the small staircase which lead to the second floor to see a blur run down the hall. With a low growl the teen ran up the creaking stairs, following the dark form into an abandoned bedroom.

"If you give me that purse I won't hurt you." Ed put his hands into the air. The man looked unsure; he then smiled and climbed out the broken window and onto the fire escape.

"Hey!" The blond shouted, leaping out the window in pursuit. This man was annoyingly persistent. Edward rushed up the stairs and onto the roof, watching as the man nimbly jumped onto the roof of the apartment next door.

The thief smirked and stood there in triumph, crossing his arms and waiting for his purser to follow.

Ed snarled in frustration and took off running, eyes locked on the man. Suddenly his boots slipped on a patch of what looked like oil. Ed tried to stop but the momentum sent him flying from the roof. Flailing arms met the bricks that were the apartment's roof, legs dangling over the edge.

The thief was standing over him, watching as Ed scrambled for a purchase. He was hanging a good three stories up with only his slipping fingertips to keep him from falling. The man flashed a twisted smile, stepping forward so his shoes made contact with Ed's hands. The nudge was just enough to send him off.

All Ed could see as he fell was the man smiling as he dug through the poor woman's purse. The blond closed his eyes and braced himself for impact, knowing there was nothing he could do to save himself. There was nothing within arm's reach that he could transmute.

He landed hard on his back, feeling his flesh leg snap and his hip crack. His shoulders made contact with a sideways garbage can, left shoulder dislocating and his ribs breaking. Ed felt something in his stomach tear at the same time part of his rib punctured his right lung. His head smacked on the garbage can but it wasn't enough to knock him out.

Edward's broken body shook as blood gurgled in the back of his throat. His eyes widened and he screamed in agony, each broken bone and ruptured organ burning with pain.

He was barely aware as people ran into the alley, homeless by the looks of them, calling for help. Ed could barely breathe and darkness slowly crept its way into his vision. Sound was distorted and the only thing he heard was his own wheezing breaths.

Edward swore he heard Alphonse scream and saw his brother kneeling over him but could only spit up some blood as a response. His automail arm reached out for his brother but flopped limply onto the garbage can with a clang, and with that he gave into dizzying darkness.