Sometimes, all it takes is one key moment to turn one's life around. In the case of mercenary Alex Mustang, a chance encounter with an ancient book begins a chain of events on his road to redemption.
HyperDimension Neptunia belongs to Compile Heart...
The Lastation Docks was always a busy place as numerous kinds of ships would come and go everyday across the ocean.
Approaching the dock was a fairly small ferry boat that approached the port before it came to rest and parked.
The people on the vessel would eventually file out one by one, stepping onto the wooden deck and leaving into the mainland.
After a bit, two people that stood out from the rest would get off the ferry and onto the ground.
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He has golden blonde hair that was tied into a braid and golden eyes as he wore a bright red, long cloak over a sleeveless black shirt with a black jacket that had silver and white lining along the edges, white gloves on his hands, a brown belt, black pants, and black boots.
This was Edward Elric, a State Alchemist known by his title of the FullMetal Alchemist.
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Standing next to Edward was a tall suit of armor that dwarfed the blonde as it wore a piece of cloth around its waist.
This was Alphonse Elric, younger brother of Edward.
"Man. Been a while since we were back here." Said Ed as Alphonse nodded.
"Yeah. Apparently someone we know should already be here to pick us up." He said as the two began to look around.
After a few seconds of searching, Al had a faint gasp as he patted Ed's shoulder.
"Brother look." He said, pointing ahead of them as Ed looked in that direction.
"Huh? No way." Said Edward, smile coming onto his face as the brothers approached who they were looking at.
That person was non other than Alex as the boy waved at them with a smile as he approached them.
He and Alphonse would give one another a high five then Alex and Ed would give one another a fist bump.
"Man. Am I glad to see you." Said Ed.
"Are you the one sent to pick us up?" Asked Al as Aled nodded.
"Yep. Got a call from Uncle Roy telling me you two were on your way back. How was y'all's excursion out to the desert? Heard you went to some place called Liore."
As Alex said that, Edward would just groan as Al chuckled awkwardly.
"I'd rather not talk about it right now." Said Ed as Alex quickly caught on that it wasn't a rather pleasant trip.
"Must've been quite the journey then. Anyways come with me. Uncle wants to see you two."
"Oh great. How wonderful." Said the blonde in an obvious sarcastic tone as the three would leave the dock and made their way over to the A.G.C.
After a while the trio arrived at the building, heading up the stairs up to his door as Alex knocked and entered alone.
After a brief conversation, the boy allowed the brothers in as the two walked into the office and sat down as Roy had a slight smirk on his face.
"Well well well, I'm glad to have you back FullMetal." He said in a smug tone.
"Yeah yeah. Whatever you say." Said Edward in an annoyed tone as Alphonse bowed.
"It's nice to see you again too Colonel." He said.
Roy nodded and looked up and down their bodies.
"Seeing you two as you are, I assume Liore was another bust?" He asked as Ed quickly snapped as he stood up as slammed his hands on the desk.
"What do you think jackass!?" He shouted.
"B-Brother calm down!" Said Alphonse as Alex grabbed Ed and sat him back down.
"Easy there buddy. You know my Uncle's just messing with you." Said Alex as Roy just chuckled.
"Anyways, I assume you two wanna go catch up with Alex right? You can go ahead and do however, there's one last thing. Kid, mind leaving the room?" Asked Roy as Alex nodded and left the room.
"What's going on?" Asked Edward.
"I understand that you two have just returned, however I already have a mission lined up. Don't worry though you don't have to begin today. I just wanted to know if you were up to it?" He said.
Al thought it over and looked at Ed as the blonde sighed.
"Anything to keep us busy I guess. What exactly is the job?"
"Well believe it not, a Homunculus may have showed up here." Said Roy as the brothers gasped in shock.
"H-Homunculus? Said Al.
"You're kidding." Said Ed.
"We aren't entirely sure but from what intel's given me, I'm highly likely it is one. Don't wanna coerce you two but obviously you both know what powers a Homunculus right? This could also help aide in your quest." Said Roy.
"You say that yet you basically did try to coerce us." Annoyingly said Ed before sighing. "Alright we'll look into it tonight once we're done hanging out with Alex." Said Ed as Roy nodded.
"Good. You two are dismissed then." He said.
The brothers would leave the room and catch up with Alex as the three boys would hit the city and just walk around the main plaza to chit chat and catch up on what had happened since the last time they saw each other.
The Elrics had befriended Alex a few years ago back when he was ten.
The three quickly got along and bonded with one another after realizing they all had similar upbringings with a deceased mother and deadbeat father all at a very young age.
Obviously the Elrics were unaware that Alex's mom had actually never died and came back however Alex had zero intentions on ever telling them.
Around an hour and a half would pass as the sun began to set when the brother would inform Alex that they'd have to leave now.
"Hm what's up? You two gonna be busy?" Asked Alex as they nodded.
"The Colonel assigned us a job that'll aid in our quest. Thankfully it's within this nation so we won't have to leave." Said Edward.
"I see. Well alright then. It was nice hanging out with you guys again." Said Alex.
"Yeah. Likewise." Responded Edward as the two shook hands.
"If you two ever need help with anything then feel free to give me a call. I'll pick up."
"Thanks. We appreciate it."
The brothers would wave Alex goodbye as they watched him walk away from the plaza as he headed back home to the apartment.
Once he was out of sight, Edward looked at Alphonse and gave him a nod as Al understood Ed and gave a nod back.
The two would soon leave the plaza themselves and would wait out the remainder of the day to end.
Soon, night time would arrive as the brothers began their mission.
