Chapter 1: Picking Up the Trail

ZUKO'S P.O.V.

"Why are you really here?" My father asked as he looked at me through the prison bars.

It had been one week, since I became the Fire Lord, and his bending was taken from him.

It was finally time to get my answers.

I looked at him and said solemnly, "Where is my mother?"

He laughed and said, "The question that has haunted you for years... Now that your in power you have the ability to ask me that."

He glared at me and said, "You know I had to banish her, I've told you that much but I never told you where..."

He looked to down and said, "I've assumed you've heard of Amestris? They themselves are on the side of the planet. They advance in technology and a science called alchemy considering their people can't bend."

I looked at him and said, "So you sent her there?"

My father nodded and said, "I did indeed, I dropped her off at the Amestrain borders and never looked back."

I yelled, "And left you 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter alone... Motherless..."

He laughed and said, "It was either she leave or you be killed. She chose to do it..."

I glared at him and walked out not saying a word.

Uncle was waiting for me on the outside of the tower.

Uncle was more of a father to me than anything, he knew how bad I wanted to know this.

He looked at me and said, "So did you find out where Ursa is?"

I nodded and said, "She's in a country called Amestris. Apparently he left her on the borders and never looked back."

Uncle nodded and said, "Ah yes, Amestris is a country where no benders are born, but incredible feats of science and technology is possible."

I looked at him and said, "Uncle, I know it's a lot to ask but..."

He smiled and said, "I'll watch things on the home front, while you and your friends go and search for her."

I smiled and hugged him.

He gave a hardy laugh and said, "You best message Aang, you have a long journey ahead you my nephew."

AANG'S P.O.V.

"So Zuko, where are we going?" Sokka asked as we all packed our things on to Appa.

Zuko looked at him and said, "The other side of the world to a country called Amestris."

Toph groaned and said, "Why are we going there?"

Zuko looked down and said, "That where my father sent my mother to. I want to bring her home."

I looked at him and said, "Now that sounds like an adventure!"

Katara smiled and said, "Yeah Aang and this time the fate of the world isn't at risk."

Toph climbed on to Appa and asked, "So what is so special about this Amestris place anyway?"

Zuko replied, "To start they are all non-benders, but they do posses a special abilities through a science called alchemy. They are technology advanced and highly advanced in combat."

Sokka's head popped up and said, "How advance tech we talking?"

Zuko sighed and said, "Communication devices, music players, carriages that pull themselves, and fully functional replacement limbs made out of metal."

Sokka jumped in the saddle and said, "Amestris, here we come!"

Everyone got in the saddle and got on Appa's head.

I smiled and said, "Yip, yip!"

Appa took off into the sky and we began our lengthy flight around the world.

3 DAYS LATER

"Are we there yet?" Toph asked as we flew over the unfamiliar lands.

I sighed and said, "I think so..."

Katara looked and said, "There a city ahead..."

I looked and saw the giant city set in front of us illuminating the night sky.

I looked at them and said, "I going to find a place to land Appa."

I steered Appa down just outside of the city and we all got off.

As soon as Toph placed her feet on the ground she said, "Whoa... This place is huge... I mean huge, huge! It's bigger than Ba Sing Se!"

Zuko nodded and said, "We should get moving and see if we can find any information."

We all nodded and walked into the strange city.

We walked in the lit streets looking at things and we finally stopped in an alley and took a break.

Two men in blue uniforms ran down towards and center alley and a someone grabbed them and...

Froze them solid with lighting...

He killed them... What kind of sick twisted guy is this?!

The man walked out and showed he was in a similar blue uniform with a long black ponytail.

He had metal gauntlets with drawing engraved on it. The murderer said, "Water freezes, water boils. Either way, you're just as dead."

All of a sudden a spear lands right in front of him.

He said with shock, "That's alchemy..." "What a nasty thing to do."

A young man's voice said.

The man said with malice, "You of all people should know: Great deeds require great sacrifice. Isn't that the law of equivalent exchange?!"

A young boy with golden hair and eyes in a red cloak walked forward and said, "Save your breath. The laws of alchemy don't justify murder!"

He clapped his hands and grabbed the spear.

It illuminated with electricity and began to change from a spear in to a spiked club.

Sokka then said, "How is he doing that?!"

The murderous alchemist said, "No transmutation circles..."

Ed yelled, "Al now!"

A suit of armor runs behind the man and tries to hit him.

Toph eyes widen and said, "Please tell me there's some flying person controlling the suit of armor..."

I shook my head and said, "No... Why ask?"

The man grabs boy arms and begins to do the lighting thing only to have the armor knock him back.

Katara gasped and said, "He tried to..."

The man yelled, "Impossible! Any water in your arm should have boiled!"

Ed showed his arm and said, "Well if it makes you feel better, you did ruin my coat..."

He showed the shiny metal limb. Zuko said, "He missing an arm?!"

The man said, "It's automail... So a talented young alchemist, who doesn't need transmutation circles, and has a automail right arm. I know you, your Edward Elric, The Fullmetal Alchemist!"

I looked at Zuko and said, "That must be the alchemy thing there doing..."

The man pointed to the armor and said, "So it's not you?"

The armor nodded and said, "No, I'm his younger brother, Alphonse."

A little brother, bigger than the older.

Now that's funny.

The man then said, "But he's a runt..."

Edward got mad, and made it to where the man's face was trapped in a wall of stone.

The man said with his face all squished, "I've heard the stories, but I never imagine that, Fullmetal was just a little kid..."

Edward yelled, "I'M NOT LITTLE!"

The boy did the clap thing and a stone fist sending the man flying backward.

Alphonse looked at Edward and said, "I don't think he was talking about your height just now, Brother..."

Edward growled and said, "Yeah, but he still pissed me off!"

Edward destroyed the metal gauntlet and looked at us.

He said, "What the hell you looking at? Scram!"

I said, "Um... Sorry but what about that guy?"

Edward smirked and said, "I'm taking him to my superior officer so he..."

A large cloud of steam rolled up and the man was gone.

Edward yelled, "Dammit, now I'm really pissed off!"

He glared at us and said, "Give me one good reason, why I shouldn't have you arrested for messing with Military Affairs?!"

I looked at him and said, "You're military?!"

He nodded and said, "Yeah, what of it. Still looking for that reason and..."

Toph said quietly, "He's empty inside that suit..."

Edward's golden eyes widen at what she said.

Alphonse looked at her and said, "How did you..."

She replied, "Although I am blind, I can feel the vibrations in the earth and when I felt yours... You're hallow..."

Edward looked at us and said, "What the hell are you?!"

I replied, "Hello I'm Aang and were from the Four Nations."

Edward looked at us and said, "That huge set of land on the other side of the world. The one with people who can use their inner energy to bend the elements..."

Katara nodded and said, "I'm Katara, I'm a water bender."

She bend out her water around Edward's head.

He grinned and said, "Incredible! I read about the potential properties in bending that could have similar oppositions in alchemy!"

We all stared confused at what he said.

Alphonse looked at us and said, "So she can feel the earth... She must be and earth bender.."

Toph nodded and said, "I'm also a metal bender. By the way Metalbutt, you have a dent in your leg."

Sokka looked at him and said, "His leg is metal too?!"

She nodded and said, "Yeah, but the like I said..."

Toph walked up to Al and banged her fist on his chest. Loud metal echos ran through the air.

"He's empty inside, there's nothing controlling it..."

Ed sighed and said, "We'll explain once we report back to Colonel Bastard."

EDWARD'S P.O.V.

"So once again, you under estimated you opponent Fullmetal." Mustang said while looking out the window.

I groaned and said, "We didn't expect him to have a dam circle tattooed on his hand!"

Mustang said, "Well, learn from your mistakes, Fullmetal. Now the name of the target, is Issac McDougal, he's a former State Alchemist."

Al then said, "Yeah, didn't he abandon his title after the Isvalen Civil War?"

Colonel Bastard nodded and said, "The order is catch him, dead or alive."

I looked down and said, "No way, am I killing for you people."

Mustang nodded and said, "And that's your choice. Now off topic, who are these people that you brought into my office?"

A kid with the scar stood up and said, "My name is Zuko. We come from The Four Nations, where I govern part of it."

I gawked at him and said, "You're a leader of a nation?!"

He nodded and said, "My formal title is Fire Lord Zuko, but that beside the point..."

He looked up and said, "My... father was a horrible man... sending my mother away when I was 5 years old... I've come to find out she was sent here... Me and my friends had come here in search of her."

Mustang nodded and said, "Well that's a noble endeavor that we might be able to help with."

Zuko smiled and said, "Thank you Sir."

He nodded and said, "Do have a picture of her?"

Zuko nodded and pulled out a scroll. "We don't have camera's but the court painter was rather good."

Mustang unrolled it and his eyes widen.

I looked at him and said, "What you recognize her or something?"

He said, "Edward..."

He flipped the scroll around and showed the painting of the woman.

No... It can be...

Al and I just stared at the painting...

Zuko looked at us and said, "You three know her..."

I nodded and said, "Al and I do... Mustang has never met her."

I pulled out my wallet and pulled out a picture...

I set it on the desk and said, "This is how we know her..."

Zuko looked at the photograph and his eyes widen.

He held up the picture of me and Al hugging on to our mother, with her dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.

Zuko looked at me and said, "She's your..."

Al nodded and said, "The remembrance is uncanny between the pictures... looks like we share something in common..."

Aang jumped up and said, "What? What do guys share?!"

Zuko held up the photo while I held up the painting.

The group stared in awe as they made the realization that the women in the pictures were the same person.

Zuko and I shared the same mother, which meant...

Al looked at me and said, "Brother..."

I looked at him and said, "Your going to have to specify Al. You have two now..."