Xenotime

Xenotime is a town in the desert that is famous for its goldsmiths. It used to be that Xenotime was a lush, green, town. Now, since the townspeople discovered a gold vein, they started digging which reduced the topsoil and since then, it's been a town in the desert.

The Light Novel
Edward and Al visit the town to get some leads on the Philosopher's Stone. While in town, they discover that someone has been using their names. They also discover that the imposters were trying to create a Philiosopher's Stone. So in the night, Ed and Al sneak into the lab to read the notes. They get caught by the imposters however, who reveal themselves to be called Russell and Fletcher. Ed and Russell get in a big fight while Fletcher and Al try to pull them off. Ed and Al leave before they get caught and decide to come again tommorrow.

They come again for a few more nights and eventually, Ed and Al finds the notes and how Russell has been trying to make the stone. Russell has been using the Crimson Water that his father made and trying to reverse engineer a Philosopher's Stone. The plan was partially successful as the brothers created some trial Stones. However, Ed concludes that it's impossible to make the Stone using reverse engineering. At this point, Russell steps out of a curtain and they start to fight again. This time, no one is there to stop them and eventually, Ed and Al escape through a tunnel that Fletcher transmuted.

Eventually, Russell and Fletcher get caught and thrown into the cellar by their employer, Mugear. Mugear tells them about their father, Nash Tringum and how he figured out that they weren't the Elric brothers at all. He then leaves them to their own devices and brings Edward and Alphonse in to work for him. Edward decides to see the Tringum brothers before agreeing and slashes open the bars of the cell. The brothers escape and Edward learns what really happened to Nash instead of going missing.

Edward and Mugear get in a fight but Mugear is a formidable opponent with the Stone. Russell comes back and helps Edward defeat Mugear. While the older brothers were fighting Mugear, Al and Fletcher set fire to the laboratory and burn it to the ground. At the end, Edward and Alphonse leave Xenotime with the thanks and apologies of the townspeople.