Equivalent Exchange

[Ben]

Shara smiled and sang a song, soft enough for the few poeple around her to hear, but not loud enough to draw much attention. By the time her song had ended she had streched out on the seat and had fallen asleep with her arm for a pillow. Shara had only one dream and that dream she wanted to hold on to for the rest of her life...

But alas, when the train came into the Resembool station sahra reluctantly let go of her dream and woke up with a ferocious yawn. She rubbed her eyes with one hand while the other went for her bag. She puleld it up beside her and then looked over at Ed and smiled. "Edward!" she sang out poking his leg with the tip of her boot "Wake up! We're there!" She said poking his shoulder.

[Evoth]

"Huh?" Edward sprang up. He looked half dazed, "All ready there?" his words were muttered as he nearly doze off again. Alphonse sighed, "Come on brother. We're home." Ed pushed the sleep from his eyes. He didn't want to get up, even though he was somewhat excited about being home. Sleep still called for him.

With a long yawn Ed stood from his seat and stretched, "I guess that it's time." Reaching into his pocket he pulled his watch out and opened it away from Shara's view. It was nearly that same time of the year. Silently he placed the watch away, "Come on then. It's time we leave." Edward grabbed his stuff from the overhead compartment and left the train. He and Al were home once again.

[Ben]

Shara giggled and followed Ed and Al off the train. She adjusted her bag when they had more space and started up the long road to where they'd be staying. Most of the time Shara was off in her own little world and thinking theings over as she usualy did. by the time she spotted the house on the horizion she was almost asleep on her feet.

As they got closer her eyes tuned in on the sign at the front of the house and to the house itself. She made a detailed sketch in her mind and saved it in her photographic memory. She looked at the sign again and smiled. The sign was nothing fancy and it did the job well. She kept her mouth closed as she yawned and streched, going up on her tippy toes and making her a noticeable few inches taller than Ed.

When they finaly got to the house Shara set her bag down and put her hands on her hips and looked the house over again, this time in a more detailed inspection. Well at least the people who lived her, Winry and Pinako, kept a neat clean house. That was a good thing, most of the mechs she'd meet on her travels were horrible slobs. She shiverd just thinking about it and then looked over at Ed and Al. Home, Al had said, so this was where they were from.

Den heard them arrive and came around the front of the house and walked over to Shara. She looked down to see a dog at her feet and smiled. She knelt down and pet Den's head. "So cute!" She said softly and then ruffled Den's hair and stood back up.

[Evoth]

Edward let out a stiffled yawn. It seemed that the trip had wore on him. Gazing off into the distance he could see the home of the Rockbells. The sight of the home brought not a smile, but the memories of a forgotten past. It was a dream before their very eyes.

Everything about their hometown seemed the same; untouched by the ravages of time. "Welcome home." The words were empty, no emotion seemed to emote from Ed. Alphonse placed his hand on his brother's shoulder and gripped it firmly. He felt the same way.

The knock at the Rockbell front door came softly. "Hold on." came a voice. The door swung open and there stood Pinako. Wearing her work clothes and smoking her pipe, "So you've returned." A smirk formed on the old woman's face, "And you've brought a friend." stepping away from the doorway held her arm out in a fleating motion, "Come in."

[Ben]

Shara studied Pinako and then looked over at Ed and snickerd. She fetched her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She smiled at Pinako and walked inside and stepped aside and looked around. The house itself was clean and she guessed that was a good thing.

After a bit she set her bag down next to her feet and awited for Ed and Al to come in before she turned to Pinako and introduced herself. "Hello. I'm Shara Kouvo nice to meet you." She said with a smile and stuck her hand out for Pinako to shake. once formalities were over and done with Shara growled.

"I just tightened them on the train..." She grumbled and bent down and fetched her screw drivers and tightened up a few screws on her arms again while chewing softly on her lip. When she was done she tucked the screwdrivers back into her bag and then looked down at Pinako, knowing that she'd wonder why Shara was messing with her auto mail arms. "Sorry.. They're old... and falling apart on me..." She said with a heavy sigh.

She walked over to the couch and sat down and looked up over at Edward. "I was the one who dragged them along instead of the other way around." She said with a grin. She put her arms up and put her hands behind her head. Her sleves of course fell down to reveal that both of her arms were auto mail and from a distance you could still see that they were in bad condition. Shara looked from one arm to the other and then gave a nervous laugh. "And I came to see you about getting some new arms..." She added with another big grin.

[Evoth]

"She does. They're in bad condition." Said Ed as he wander his way over to a chair, "If she continues to use them, they'll fall apart." Pinako nodded at Ed and turned toward Shara. Without asking, she grasped Shara's arms and pulled them from behind her head.

For her lack of stature, Pinako made up for it in strength and skill. She was a professional in her field trying to pass on the trade to her granddaughter. She ran her hand along the length of Shara's arm, taking in every detail. From bumps to grooves. Muttering softly to herself as she began to think.

Pinako sighed, "What is it?" questioned Alphonse. Pinako shook her head, "These will defiantly have to be changed out. They're far too old and far beyond repair." She left Shara's side and went into the back room. It was filled with automail parts and equipment. "You're lucky you came just in time. Any later, you're automail might of damaged your nerves. Winry!"

[Ben]

Shara was supprised at Pinako's strength, but all she did was raise her eyebrows and left it at that. "Um... well... Gosh, I guess running into Ed when I did was the bestthing that ever happened to me..." He cheeks turned a few shades darker and Shara rested her arms on her legs and glanced at the backs of her gloves. "Well..." She paused and then got up and walked over to her bag and pulled out a pair of pliers, a small metal box and a glass vileof what looked like engine greese.

She sat back down on the couch and tugged her gloves off. Both of her semi-unfinished stones were cracked in several diffrent places, but still pretty much intact. She used the pliers to work the bracketing and then oiled the stones up and worked a bit and poped them out, peice by peice and put them in the little box. Once they were removed she shut the box and locked it and stuck the key in her pocket.

She'd gotten all of this done while Pinako was fetching Winry and relaxed into the couch. "hmm..." She looked up at the celing and thought. "Made of scrap metal and spare parts, I barely made it through the surgery that attached all my nerves, back then I had a low pain threshold. They were hand-me-downs, but the bases and the plates runing across my chest and back are coustom made to grow with me." Shara said rather loudly, so Pinako and Winry could overhear.

[Evoth]

"I'm coming!" cried out Winry. Pinako shook her head, "That girl is always in her own little world." Edward laughed, "You are too Edward." Ed sulked at her comment, "We have guests?" Alphonse walked over to where Pinako stood, "Yes! Why don't you come and greet us Winry." There came a loud clatter from another room, "Al!" The door swung open and out came Winry in her usual attire, her face had a dab of oil on it, "Is Ed here too?"

Alphonse waved his arm in the direction of Ed. Winry leaned into the doorway and smiled.
"Long time no see Winry." She walked over to him as kindly as possible before raising her wrench and smacking him on his head. Tears began to form in his eyes, "Ow!" Winry scoffed, "What did you do to my work this time?" She demanded to know. "What?" Said Ed clinching his head.

[Ben]

Shara staid silent and looked Winry over as Ed, Al, Pinako and Winry did their little thing and watched as Winry walkedover to Ed and clanked him atop the head with a wrench. She winced and bit down softly on lip and staid silent for a few minutes. She collected her things and stood up and walked right past Winry and stowed her thing and brought out oneof her thick books and flipped itto the index. She looked up a few things and nodded.

Without a word she kenlt down and pulled the bandana from her head and brought out a waterbottle and and soaked the bandana. She placediton the floor and softly clappedher hands. She placed them on the bandana and after the crackle of alchemy and the brigth blue glow she stood and handed an ice pack to Ed. "Pust this on your head." She said with a smile. "He's fine, it's me you should be worrying about."

[Evoth]

Edward grabbed the icepack and put it on his newly formed bump. Winry turned to Shara, "I see. You're just like Ed and Al."She placed her hands on her hips, "Well, what seemes to be the problem." Pinako walked out of the back room with Alphonse holding automail parts, "Her arms are a mess Winry." She said, "We'll have to do a replacement or she'll recieve nerve damage in the near future.

Winry looked at Shara's arms, "We'd better get to work immediately." Opening the door to the work shop she allowed her grandmother through along with Alphonse, "Come along then. I'll replace your arms with a model I've been building these last few months. In the room was a bed and a few stools. Cabinets filled with parts and tools, all neatly organized. "Just get up on the bed and we'll begin work." Pinako told Shara. Edward stood up from the chair, "Don't worry, they're the best."

[Ben]

Shara put her book away and followed Winry back into the room. She shed her overcoat and shirt. She wore a spaggeti strap shirt underneath. With her top mostly un-coverd the metal plates crossing her chest and back could clearly be seen. They were screwed into her collar bones and her shoulders and came in three parts so she could both grow and mover her arms normaly.

She placed her overcoat and shirt on the foot of the bed and shed her boots andnudged them under the bed. Shara sat down on the bed and then streched out in the center and closed her eyes. "If you have anything to ask me, go ahead. I promise I won't fall asleep" She said softly and closed her eyes, going into a meditative state.

[Evoth]

"It truely is an old model." Said Pinako to Winry. She nodded and looked over the automail, "It is. No wonder why it's in a bad state." Both Pinako and Winry began to work. Slowly dismantling the automail as not to bring discomfort to Shara. They worked diligently. Unscrewing each nut and bolt until they pulled the automail from Shara's body, "Now you're going to fill a bit odd until we can mount the arms."

Pinako grabbed the new automail that Winry just finished, "Interesting work. I don't think I could of done better." The model was lighter and better then the old model Shara had. Winry beamed as she was praised by her mentor. Both of them began to attach the arms, "Now you're going to feel a slight pinch." announced Winry calmy. "If you're going to scream then you better do it." Pinako was blunt with her words. With a last push and bolts the automail was attached.

[Ben]

Shara listened to them work and felt them dismantling her arms and mentally ticked off which parts they'd taken off. She named all the bolts, nuts and screws and where they'd come from. She bit down softly when certain parts of her arms were taken apart, but she didn't utter a word. At one point small beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but she kept her breathing even.

When they finally finished she sighed and then relaxed for a bit and worked her stiff jaw. She did fell a bit odd without arms and when Pinako said there was going to be a pinch Shara sighed softly, knowing that it was going to be much more. When they finally tightened the bolts she clenched her teeth and most of the muscles in her neck and jaw stood out. The skin on the bridge of her nose wrinkled and her brows creased, but she refused to even make a peep.

"Passing out now" she hissed through her teeth and her features loosened as she went limp. Deep within her consciousness she hugged the darkness for a few hours, embracing the painless sleep she was in, but eventually she returned to the world of the living. It had been several hours and Shara finally stirred. Her eyes opened and she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. She looked around and as her muscles tensed she forced herself to relax. After a bit she sat up and held her arms out before her and examined them.

She made sure her fingers, hands and arms worked the way they were supposed to before she got to her feet and stretched. She flexed her hands and fingers all the way to the door. After a bit she reached for the door knob and turned it slowly and quietly opened the door. She looked about and seeing nobody out there, she quietly crept to the front door and slid out. Once outside she closed the door quietly and leaned against the side of the house and looked out over Resombool's rolling hills with a sigh.

She closed her eyes and searched her memory and came up with a song, translated it and sang. Her voice tuned to be soft and sweet, but pitched enough to ring out over the porch and reach the second level as well.

"Dancing alone again, again
The rain falling.
Only the scent of you remains to dance with me.
Nobody showed me how to return the love you give to me.
Mom never hugged me.
Dad loves a stranger more than me.
I never wanted to ever bring you down.
All that I need are some simple loving words.
You touched my body once, it burns me still softly.
Never forget never again we'll be. I cried.
Out of my head and I don't know what I found.
Over and over I feel it break me down.
On the sidewalk of the city.
Are my screams just a whisper?
Busy people going nowhere.
See me soak in the rain.
No compassion, nothing matters.
My resistance is waning
Like a flower in the basement waiting for a lonely death."

She waited for a bit as the last words to her song died off and she smiled to herself and snuck back into the house and walked over to the couch. She lay down on the couch and made herself comfortable and with a wide yawn she tucked her head to her chest and closed her eyes. After a few more minutes she fell into a light sleep and slept all through that evening and all through the night but it wasn't to be a peaceful sleep...

Shara sat in her room measuring out the ingredients she'd need. After she combined them all together she took a look at the book and began drawing on the dirt flooring with a piece of chalk. After a bit she stood up and surveyed the human transmutation circle before her. "Well I just wana see how it works..." she said softly to herself "Sothe shouldn't mind..." She said and knelt down and activated the transmutation circle.

Sothe wondered what Shara was doing in her room, hearing various elements being arranged. He waited a few moments and slowly opened the door. "What are you doing in-"he stopped, seeing the gate. Shara looked back at Sothe "I just want to see what's inside..." she said softly and started off towards the gate. The doors slowly opened before her and she continued to walk towards them. As she began to enter, Sothe grabbed her by the arm and tried to pull her back, but black tentacles had sprung from the door, entangling both Shara and Sothe, and pulling them back into the Gate...

By that point she was screaming bloody murder. She sat up on the couch, her chest heaving and she was covered in sweat. She hoped she hadn't woken anybody up. She sat there on the couch, as pale as ever and shook. "I don't want to go back..." she mumbled softly, her eyes staring off into space not noticing if anybody had come to see what she had been screaming about.

When nobody came she took a deep breath and got up again, this time she picked up an alchemy book and sat back down on the couch. She flipped it open and burried her nose into it. As the sun rose she sat there silently and after about a half hour she moved out to sit on the stepps of the porch and read the book.

[Evoth]

Edward stood alone atop a slalitary hill. His coat wrapped around him to keep at bay the cool morning air. Sneaking out in the cover of darkness was something he normally didn't do but now was the exception. Before him stood a single tombstone. Ed turned away from the stone as he finished what it read.

_{Trisha Elric
Beloved Wife, Mother, and Friend to All. May She Rest In Peace as her Soul Is Carried To the Great Beyond.}


He pressed his gloved fingers on the marble grave, and traced his fingers gracefully over the letters, being gentle, as if it were a baby, or a priceless piece of glass. He sighed, as his eyes glazed over as he started talking, "Hey mom, it's me, Ed....But I'm sure you knew that much already. Things are going....well, as good as they can get. We haven't found anything that will bring us a step closer to the stone." He sighed and continued. "Al is still in the armor. But I won't let it stay that way! He didn't come with me, but he sends his love as well. He's still shook up over it all, so am I, but I need to be strong for both of us, ya know?" He asked the question so casually, but it still panged his heart so much. He felt like it would burst out of his chest.

"Before I go....I need to say one more thing to you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've ever done. I'm sorry I tried to bring you back. I missed you so much that love and loneliness clouded my actions. I also pulled Al into my stupid acts and he suffered, he suffered more than I did. And now it's my job to make things right." he said. He tried to hold it back, but tears flowed from his amber orbs, showing more emotion than he showed in the last month. He didn't sob, he didn't whine, he just let the tears fall, and he heard two things talking to his subconcious mind, flowing into his mind.


_{'No, don't be sorry, don't be guilty. You've done enough, and it was out of love. You don't deserve this pain'}

He heard that in the wind, in almost a whisper, a sliver, but it was still there. The other saying hurt him, it made him thing about why he wanted to study alchemy in the first place...

_{'Teachings without pain have no meaning. Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return.'}

That damned saying. It ran his life, it ran his will to live, it ran his beliefs, it took over him, it was like it suffocated him, but he let it without a care.

Edward turned away from his mother's grave and down upon his hometown. So much had happened to them since they had left this place. They saved lives and destroyed them. They were ally and foe to many. So young and yet they had left their mark on the world.

[Ben]

"Gosh, this place isn't very busy..." Shara mumbled softly to herself as she closed the book and set it down beside her. "Lets see what all I've learned..." Her sentence trailed off and she spent a few minutes going over the last five chapters she'd read. After a bit she took in a deep breath and got up. She took a cautious look around and then did a few cartwheels and went from a hand stand into a back bend and then came up right again. "Thats better." She said softly with a giggle.

After a few more simple acrobatics she felt loosed up enough and concenterated on alchemy. She fetched the few nessecary ingredients from the kitchen, stuck them in a bowl and proceded to change the color of her hair from black to a dark blood red. Satified with her restults she braided her hair back and cleaned the bowl out in the kitchen sink.