Part 2 to the roleswap Au!
(Read below for lore that is waaaay too long)
-Ling and Lan Fan were too young to remember, but were orphans (Ling’s parents died to a plague, Lan Fan’s died at war) until a man named Fu adopted them, as his heart melted the second he laid eyes on them at the orphanage. Fu, a seasoned veteran, taught his “grandchildren” how to protect themselves in battle, as well as how to use alkahestry to heal battle wounds.
-Mei is Fu’s biological granddaughter, who moved with her parents to the Xing capital to pursue a career in crafting automail-so Mei didn’t necessarily grow up with Ling and Lan Fan. But they were close, the kids always goofing off together during every family get-together. When Fu passed away, and after Ling and Lan Fan attempted human transmutation, the kids all lived together ‘til Ling recovered. Mei patches up Ling’s automail every time he ruins it during his quests to find the Philosopher’s Stone; and one day, whilst traveling with Ling, she meets a certain handsome knight and can’t get him off her mind
-Al is Prince Edward’s bodyguard (and technically his servant) but the brothers are the best of friends, each ready to die for the other at the drop of a hat. However, Al’s determination to protect the royal family actually does land him in deadly situations, like when he almost died after losing his arm during a battle. He also has some reciprocated feelings for Mei (but he doesn’t know why she likes him so much??? Maybe its the hair???)
-Winry Rockbell was raised in a family of royal bodyguards, who taught her so well that she became the first female member of the Amestrian Household Cavalry. Being appointed the first lifeguard of Prince Edward has kept her on her toes most of her life-but she loves to goof off with Ed and his brother in her free time. She may or not have shot a bullet at somebody’s jugular when they tried taking the prince hostage, but it’s okay whatever-
-Ed is heir to the throne of Amestris, a kingdom that is currently suffering from a widespread famine and a failing economy. Millions have starved due to infected crops that can neither be eaten or traded with other countries for essential resources. Now, the brothers and the head of the royal guard, Winry, travel to Xing to obtain the mythical Philosopher’s Stone. Since so many wealthy individuals across the continent are seeking to pay any price for immortality, the three intend to trade the stone for enough resources to return Amestris to an extremely prosperous state, thus saving the country’s people.
-Ed eventually finds the Philosopher’s Stone; but can only obtain it through letting a homunculus take over his body. (You wouldn’t guess it by how good of friends they were later on down the line-but at first, Ed and Greed got along like a house on fire with people screaming inside)
