Hello all! I am fairly new to Fullmetal Alchemist, but it's caught my attention so firmly, I just had to write something about it. Anyhoo, I hope anybody who reads this likes it, though I'm not sure at all when it's supposed to take place. I know it's after Edward gets his Alchemist name, as you'll read. I've only watched like, the first 8 episodes, so bear with me if I miss some things.

Inspired by the new song: Call Your Name, by Daughtry. Album: Leave This Town. I loved it so much! By the way, thanks ForensicHistory15 for getting me into this Anime!!

Anyway, enjoy!!

I'm Alphonse Elric. I like that name, my mom thought it was brave, but it really means noble and eager. My brother calls me Al. Well, everyone calls me Al! I like that too. It really fits me.

Edward is the Fullmetal Alchemist. He's really cool. I wish I could do all of that amazing Alchemy. It's almost as if he doesn't have to sacrifice anything in return. Maybe if he'd known that stuff beforehand, we could've had mom back. Maybe she'd stroke my hair again, or say how cute I was. Maybe dad would've come home. Maybe we would have sat around the dinner table as a family and enjoyed mom's delicious cooking.

Aw...

It had been a long and difficult day of travel in search of the Philosopher's Stone. We were in farm country, during the wet season. Lots of clouds were blocking the moon, so it was dark. The path was muddy, and our feet were grossly caked in it. I had a hard time not falling through hidden potholes that dotted the squelchy trail. Every time I did, Ed had to pull with all his might to rescue me. This was much like that desert.

None of us were speaking. I wondered if there was something on Ed's mind. Was he worrying about me again? Or Nina? The serial killer? I didn't like it when he worried. It made me worry, and then we would both be worried. And cranky. Then we'd have a rough night, and we would wake up in the morning tired. The cycle repeated itself lots of times. I didn't like all the sameness.

"Where are we going, brother?" I asked, firming my grip around the suitcase handle in my left hand. It was slipping through my fingers a little.

He checked the watch on his wrist; the one that wasn't bionic. "Somewhere to spend the night. I figure it'll-"

Thunder boomed overhead, and the sky wept upon us. The water leaked through the splits in my armor, and made my inside fill slowly. I giggled uncomfortably, squirming as the water got higher the harder the heavens cried.

"-rain." Ed finished, his hair immediately soaked. It stuck to his face and sopped down his chin, eyelashes beaded with dew. He sighed, sucking his foot out of the muck and splashing down the road. "C'mon, Al. There's a town a mile ahead. We'll find an inn, or something. Hurry up, we wouldn't want your blood seal wash away." He sped up his pace, but had little traction on the wet mire. Thus, Edward slipped forward in an explosion of mud, and pretty soon all I could see of him was a mound under the brown grime.

"Brother!!" I smiled, dropping the luggage and dashing over. He was cursing beneath the slop he was covered in, and was writhing around. I grabbed his shoulders and helped him up. "Are you okay?"

Ed wiped his face clear with his dirty hand, locks flopping back onto his scalp. The intensity of the piqued expression he wore could have bubbled the silt. A cascade of mud gushed from his lips and ran down his chin. "I... *ack* hate... mud..." he said around the sludge.

I laughed and inserted my hands beneath his armpits. I lifted him up with a mighty sucking sound, though with some difficulty. His legs had been glued to the slick ground. I gently slung him over my shoulder, though keeping my hold on him firm so he wouldn't escape. "H-hey!! What are you doing?! Put me down!!" Now Ed was blubbering shouts of protest, flailing his arms weakly.

"Simply helping my little-"

"LITTLE?!!? WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE, YOUNGER SIBLING?!?! DA***T!!! I WAS BORN FIRST, YOU WEREN'T!!!!" Ed was thrashing madly now, pounding his fists and feet on my armor. His clanging was loud with his certain robotic appendages. "DON'T TREAT ME LIKE SOME SMALL KID WHO CAN BE CARRIED AROUND BY HIS BROTHER!!!! I'LL TURN YOU INTO AN OVERSIZED GARBAGE CAN IF YOU DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!! ALPHONSE ELRIC!!!!!!! ARRRGGGHHH!!!"

I ignored him, chuckling to myself and going back for our bags. I took both into one hand, walking down the boggy trail with Edward screaming and swearing on my arm. ("LET ME GO!! I'LL- I'LL...!!!") He wouldn't cease, no matter how many times I tried to console him. I knew he was tired, and didn't want him to have to trek through this squishy path and waste his precious energy. So, wasn't I doing a favor for him?

We eventually arrived at the town Ed had told me about, being rained on enough that we were somewhat clean. Although brother's red cloak was smudged sticky with mahogany, his boots filthy. ("PUT ME DOWN OR I'M GONNA BE REALLY PISSED OFF AT YOU!!!") I was having a trying time prying my feet from the consuming liquid dirt.

I went further into the place, passing homes that were dry inside. Lights glinted in the windows, welcoming. I knew they'd probably take in brother, but as for me... I was a little dumbfounding. ("ALPHONSE!!!!!")

The houses parted, and in the middle of an alleyway was the inn. Noise came from inside, laughter and music. Stocky, highly refurbished and modern, it beckoned to us with warmth and comfort. I couldn't wait to lie down. Slipping through guck, Ed and I approached.

I opened the door, stepping onto the spotless floor. The mud washed down my body in dark rivers, the small ponytail of horse's hair trailing my back. I was dripping onto the polished wood paneling, as was Ed. Talk abruptly ended at our entrance, and my brother shut up immediately.

The foyer doubled as a bar, and was crowded with people. Mostly men, few women, no children. The bartender was gaping at us, and dropped the mug he was scrubbing onto the ground. All eyes flicked at Edward and I, each pair wide and with astonished faces. The music that was being played on a stereo was turned off, the record cutting during the middle of the chorus in an upbeat jazz tune.

"Hello," I said politely, getting Ed to his slimy feet. He smoothed his jacket, brushing sticky hair out of his eyes. I set the suitcases side by side next to him. "I would like to see the inn clerk, please."

The barman straightened up, taking a notepad from his apron pocket, also grabbing a pencil from behind his left ear. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. That'd b' me, bucko."

I smiled, though nobody would have been able to tell. Going up to the counter, -the two men occupying the stools scuttling like cockroaches- I asked down to him kindly for a room. "May we have one with a shower? We've been walking all day through mud." I motioned back to Ed, who was scraping his pant leg clean with a sharp end of his mechanical wrist.

He then proceeded to lift his tainted arm to his nose, and sniff the stuff he had grated from his pants. Ed recoiled, making a face. "Phyew!! That's not mud!! Been trudging through s**t all day..."

I looked back to the barman/clerk. "Please? It would be very thoughtful of you."

He scratched his chin. "I s'pose... You two plannin' on leavin' tomarrow mornin'?"

I nodded. "Mm-hmm."

He exhaled, scruffy cheeks puffing. "Awright. You boys have a nice night." I was handed a tiny key after I gave him some money. "Room six'een."

I bowed slightly, thanking him. "Let's go, Ed." I turned away from the bar, seizing the cases, and squeezed between tables, muttering soft, "Excuse me's, and pardon me's," as I passed through the people. They each first stared, then quickly got out of my way to let me by. I heard the sharp pads of Edward's feet behind me as he followed.

I unlocked the room door and walked inside. It was cool and snug, with roomy beds and a wide window that overlooked the hillside ocean. The eclipsed moon was a silver ring that hung in the sky, which was bright enough to shine vaguely through the cloud covering. A few other doors concealed their destinations, but one with a lock on the handle told me that it was the opening to the neighboring suite.

Ed went past me, throwing open the first door he saw and cheering in happiness. "A shower!!! I've never been so glad to see one!!" He then proceeded to nearly rip off his clothing and dart into the bathroom practically naked.

I smiled. What a mess of a brother I was related to. But that was why I loved Edward! He always knew the perfect way to brighten up a dull situation, but was all business when the time called. I went over to one of the beds, dropping the suitcases at the foot so I would be able to prop up my legs on the end. I was always too big for most beds.

I heard the water turn on through the pipes overhead in the ceiling, and quickly entered the bathroom. There Edward was, dancing with glee in the shower's cascade of hot water. Steam had begun to rise from the mild temperature, disguising his bare body from my view. The tiles were already muckying up.

"Brother?" I said, clambering next to him. "Can I do something first?"

Ed looked up at me, eyes bright and gold, as always. "Sure! Do whatever, but hurry up. I wanna get cleaned off. I feel disgusting." I stood back and unhinged a hatch on my upper chest, swinging loose my breast plate. A flow of rainwater dumped out, flooding the shower floor with splashes.

"Yeeow!!" Brother shrieked, his hair almost shooting upward. He was baring his teeth as he jumped. "That's freaking cold!!"

I shrugged solemnly. "I couldn't feel it."

He stopped and watched me. I stared at the swirling water in the drain, sighing. "Anyway, I'll let you get back to your shower." I turned and left the bathroom, sitting on my comforter and glancing miserably out the window.