Edward Elric the new Howard teacher

Chapter 1

Edward's POV:

I was deep in thought. (Come on, Edward, think. You're the youngest State Alchemist in history, the one who has seen the Truth and can transmute without a circle. You must be able to devise an adequate solution.) Then, it dawned on me. The answer was so simple—it had been there from the beginning. I started looking around at all the people who had supported us over the years. They all want to see Alphonse back too, huh? Then I can do it.

"Hey May, step back from Al's body for a moment." After she reluctantly stepped back, I grabbed a staff and started drawing a huge human transmutation circle identical to the one I had designed in Gluttony's stomach. Standing in the middle of the field, I smiled and said happily, "I'll be right back. Sit back and enjoy the show." (This will work.) I clapped my hands together and placed them on the circle. I began the transmutation, and I could just see Hohenheim smiling at me. He must have also noticed my discovery.

Then I appeared in front of my own Gate. Before me stood Truth. "Well, I suppose you're here to retrieve your brother?" he asked, baring his teeth in a smirk. Even though I couldn't read any other features, I knew my plan would work. He must be thinking he has the upper hand, but he's wrong, and I'll make sure he knows that.

"And how do you plan to pay the toll? You can't really believe that I'll just give him back to you, just like that," Truth hissed. "Are you planning to trade yourself for your brother?" Truth asked, that smirk still on his face. I smirked back. "No," I answered with confidence. "I have too many people waiting for me to come back home," I explained, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Then what shall be your payment, little alchemist?" Truth asked me. I felt irritation rising, but I held back from exploding. I knew it could ruin everything if I lost control now. "What are you willing to sacrifice?" Truth asked, his voice full of contempt and malice. I jerked my thumb behind me, pointing at my Gate of Truth.

"I think my Portal of Truth should suffice," I said with a smirk. "It's my Portal of Truth, so I should have the right to decide how it's used. I think this is a pretty good way to use it," I said, crossing my arms again, still with that smug smirk on my face. Truth was silent for a moment, letting my words sink in. Then, the laughter came.

"It has come to this? Are you sure about this? Without your portal, you won't be able to use alchemy ever again. You'll be reduced to a simple human." Truth said. I just smiled and nodded. "It's true that this portal contains every secret there is to know about alchemy, but it also led me astray. I thought I could fix everything with alchemy, but I was wrong. I couldn't even save one little girl," I explained to Truth.

"Besides, who even needs alchemy when I have all the people I care about? Compared to alchemy, I'd choose my brother any day of the year," I declared. I expected it to be over, but then Truth spoke again. I had a bad feeling about it. "While that's true, I don't want to see you throw your alchemy away, just like that." I could feel my heart plummeting. Then his smirk returned, and he snapped his fingers.

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?! This is my portal, for crying out loud, so I can do with it what I damn well please!" I yelled in rage at the being in front of me. It didn't seem to mind. Rather, it was like it expected me to react this way. Instead, it raised its hand in the air and continued.

"Edward, I don't want you to throw away your gate, so you can just keep it." I raised my eyebrow at its words. How could that work? There's no equivalent exchange. Just when I was about to ask about this, the being continued. "Instead of your alchemy, I want you to do me a favor; you see, I have a problem in another world that also needs saving. I need someone to help me with it, since that world's counterpart is in a bit of a predicament. You could see that as your payment. You can keep your brother and your alchemy," it said.