“Yes, Chance! I’ve packed it already!” I called back as I exited the house and ran for the red minivan parked in front of my house.

“You have a good time, Sis! Have fun!” Chance, my older brother, called and waved from the door. I waved back from the window as I drove away.

“Bye!”

“So where do you want to go first, Cat? Dusty’s or go straight to the mountain?” Harmony DeMonte asked, she was driving. She’s one of my best friends, and one of the very few who understand me. I’ve known her since eighth year, and still going strong. Everyone at school just knows her as “Harms,” even a few of the teachers call her that.

I climbed into shotgun after Alana had climbed out; shotgun was always mine. “Why not Dusty’s?” Dusty--Dustin Dimitri--is an old friend of mine I’ve known since tenth year, same with Hailey “Holly” Duncan and Abigail “Abby” Denver.

“He said his parents aren’t allowing him to come camping with us. Something about raping us and such,” Abby said. Everyone stared at her. “What?”

“Where did you hear this, Abby?” Alana asked. Alana “Al” Carlton is new to our group of friends, transferring in my eleventh year.

“I heard his parent’s argument over the phone. Dusty put up a good fight, setting the fact that he’s gay into effect… but they still didn’t allow him,” Abby explained.

Holly crossed her arms. “I hate Dusty’s parents. They’re so overprotective of him and us. And they don’t approve of him being gay. Is it his fault that he likes sticking it in men’s asses?” Everyone shook their head in disapproval of Dusty’s parents.

There was silence for a while before I spoke up. “Well, then, to the mountain first?”

“Alright, I’ll call Dusty and tell him we’re coming by tomorrow instead,” Abby said and took out her cell phone.

“First stop, Rush Mountain!” Harms shouted and everyone laughed.

When we arrived on the mountain the rangers told us we had to park the minivan in a nearby parking lot and hike up the mountain. Of course, this was what we had planned, bringing with us a satellite phone and a GPS monitor just in case. Each of us also brought a tarp. Harms and Holly were the ones who supplied the tents while Al and I brought the basics for everyone to share. Food was brought by all of us, bringing only enough for themselves and one other for two days, this way, there was enough for us in case one of us got the munchies or had a hunger attack--which are rare for us.

The sun had started to set when we were only halfway up the mountain since we had started at around two and it was the middle of August; the sun sets at nine.

“Let’s set up camp. No more hiking now that it’s dusk,” Holly said and jabbed her walking stick into the ground we were resting at.

“We’re not actually setting up camp here, are we? It’s uneven,” Harms whined and slouched. I laughed.

“I volunteer to go exploring for a bit for more even land. Anyone want to come? Perhaps Abby?” I suggested, my hand raised. If anyone were to join me on my expedition it’d be Abby. She’s always on for anything.

“Sure, why not? I’m in. Let’s go, Cat.” Abby grabbed my arm and started to pull me away up the mountain more.

After a while she let go of my arm and when we were far enough away I broke the silence. “I knew you’d want to, you sporty freak.” We laughed.

“You bet. If Holly would allow it, I’d hike through until quarter to eleven.”

“Wow, really?”

She swatted her hand as if hitting a fly. “Nah. Just exaggerating. But still, I’d go as long as I could.”

“Which is still pretty long, Abby,” I stated and she thanked me.

“Hey, look, a cave! Think that’d suffice the group’s needs?” Abby asked and pointed to a dark cave.

“Let’s check it out first, maybe a bear lives there…”

“Or a family of possums.” She led the way and I followed, both of us laughing.

“It’s pretty dark, let me light the lamp. One moment.” But before I could even get the lamp out Abby started to trek into the dark, pitch black cave. “Hey, Abby! Don’t go in there alone!” I shouted and stumbled after her, forgetting about the lamp for a moment.

It was dark and damp. I couldn’t see anything. For all I knew, there was a giant bear in front of me, or there was a fork in the cave and I was headed in the opposite direction Abby was in. But for whatever reason, I kept going, the thought about the lamp long gone for the spark of thrill that was in me as I kept walking.

“Cat?” I jumped.

“Eek!”

Abby laughed. “That was hilarious! Do that again!”

I frowned. Petty. Just plain petty. “Abby! Don’t do that!”

“Alright, alright. Did you get the lamp?”

“Click,” I said, making the sound of the light bulb in my head.

“You forgot?” She sounded exasperated. I sighed and pulled out the lamp, quickly lighting it and for the first time, actually seeing inside the cave.

It was huge, and moss was growing off the walls. There were a few leaks from the upper land, but that could be easily avoided with the tarps we each had. ‘One for upper and one for lower,’ Harms had said.

“This is perfect,” I said and turned back towards the exit. “Now let’s go back.”

“No. Let’s continue and see where this cave leads.”

“I bet it just leads into a dead end, Abby. Come on, let’s go,” I begged. I didn’t like how deep we were already in the cave, I couldn’t see the exit anymore.

Abby didn’t respond, she just kept going further into the cave. “Abby!” I called after here when she was out of the light’s touch. Shit, I thought, I can’t let her go in by herself. So, without anymore thought, I pressed on into the cave, no matter how small it narrowed, no matter how much more moss cultivated. I even started to walk on it constantly, after a while, like a rugged carpet.

“Abby! Come back!” She still hadn’t returned into view, and I was getting worried now. What had happened to her?

But after I had thought those dreadful thoughts a small, faint light became visible and in the distance I saw a frame of a young lady. I immediately thought of Abby.

“Abby! Come back, Abby!” I broke into a run, one of my fastest runs in my life. I dropped the lamp for I had no need of it, the thought of the return trip back never coming to mind. Only Abby, and getting out of the cave were in mind. Getting out of the cave the most superior.

There she was, standing at the edge of the cave mouth, overlooking something. I came up behind her and poked her. “Abby? You alright?”

“Ham… ham.. Am..” I looked over what she was looking at, and then actually thought hard.

“Germany?!” I shouted, shocked. No, astonished. “How’d this get here? And in a mountain, no less.”

“Let’s go explore,” Abby finally said and started heading down the small mountain ledge we were on.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Yes, in fact, I am. You are, too, remember, Cat?” I sighed and climbed down with her. We wandered into the town nearby and followed random crowds like mindless lambs. It was… different. Not at all like how the history textbooks I read. Well, there a few similarities, but still, not much. It felt a lot more… realistic.

After a while we saw a flower shop that seemed fun. “Why not get something for Dusty?” I suggested, pointing to the flowers in front.

“Yeah! Um, which ones does he like, again?” Abby wondered, standing in front of a batch of daisies with her lip pouting and index on lip. I chuckled lowly to myself before seeing a wonderful pre-made bouquet.

“Abby, look! It has hibiscus, daisies, roses, and daffodils!”

“Yes, it’s very pretty, but I remember Dusty’s favorite flower, now.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“What’s yours?”

“Tulips, sunflowers, and roses.”

“Don’t you have one?”

“Nope.”

She sighed. “It’s sunflowers.” I nodded. I can understand why Dusty would like them.

“I bet, they must remind him of Wakka… that damn brat.” I sighed and Abby laughed.

“Wakka, that rascal. How dare he make Dusty gay! He was so hot!” And we broke out in more laughs, heaver now.

“May I help you two?” A lady with short light brown hair came out of the flower shop. She had a nice smile, a graceful step and wonderful voice.

“N-no, we’re f-fine!” I managed to say between laughs.

“Hey, new faces. That’s hardly often, nowadays. Have you found a place to stay, yet?” she asked.

Abby’s face turned stone cold. “No, we haven’t.” I stopped laughing, too.

“Would you like one? I have a few rooms left in that apartment there.” The lady pointed to a tall building beside the flower shop. It was brown and had two windows in front.

“What’s your price, Miss?” Abby continued. What was she doing?

“Only 250 per month. That’s all.”

Abby grinned a wicked smile. “What’s your name?”

“Gracia.”

It came back, now. The whole fifty-one episode TV show and the movie. It all came rushing back. Abby looked at me with a serious face, and seemed to smile at my sudden amazement.

“Surprised?” she whispered.

“Very.”

“I’m sorry, we’re going to have to think about that. We’ll be back later on today. Or maybe tonight. Bye, Gracia. And thank you for the offer.” Abby grabbed my wrist tightly and led me away back towards the mountain we came from. Randomly, she stopped someone and asked, “What’s that mountain called?”

The man stared at her oddly, but answered anyway. “Rush mountain. Why, miss?”

“Oh, nothing. Thank you very much, sir.” Abby continued to pull me towards the mountain.

“What’s going on, Abby? Why are we in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist?” Why? And, more importantly, how? One moment we’re in a dark and scary cave, the next we’re in the mid-1900’s in a made up world by someone called Hiromu.

“I don’t know, but we have to talk to Holly.”

“Click.” Of course! Holly! She’s an expert at this anime stuff. She was even delusional enough two sleepover’s ago to say she went to the world of Fullmetal Alchemist. How crazy was that? She told us she’d been going for a few years already and was engaged to Edward Elric. We thought she was some crazy insane person until she calmed down about it a few weeks ago. “She isn’t crazy anymore, is she, Abby?”

“Nope.”