Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or FMAB but I own my idea

Well, this is my second story, pretty much all about Ling and Lan Fan, growing up, to helping in Amestris, to their life after Amestris, so you can be expecting a lot of chapters out of this one.

It follows along with Brotherhood, obviously. I think I've watched it enough to remember the story line and where they come in.

Anyways, this first chapter starts out when Ling and Lan Fan are about 12 years old.

Chapter 1- The Master and His New Assassin

"…and you have been trained well, so don't disappoint me Lan Fan. Do you understand?"

Lan Fan bowed respectfully to her grandfather. After 8 hard years of training, it was finally her turn to be assigned a master to look after. It was her duty, as part of their clan, to protect the Yao clan at all costs. Truthfully, Lan Fan couldn't tell the story herself, but all that was drilled into her mind was to protect them, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

Her grandfather and eleven brothers was all she had. Her mother had died giving birth to her and she never really knew her father. None of them did. Her grandfather was only here to train them all, and then train her own children. If she ever had any…

Lan Fan had been the first girl their clan has seen in 12 years. The eldest daughter of their clan, named Yuki, had been killed in action protecting her own master. She was simply replaced by her oldest brother. It seemed a bit empty hearted, but that's just how things were done here.

He stood up and smiled at her. "Come with me, I want to give you something." Lan Fan smiled back and stood up, stretching and following her grandfather to his room. He took out a mask, a red and white one, with a Yin sign at the top.

"Mother's mask?" She asked a bit confused, and looking up at him.

He nodded and handed it to her. "She wanted me to give it to you when you were ready to begin your destiny as an assassin." He said, smiling at her.

Lan fan took it from him and looked at the painting and craftsman shit put into it. It was so smooth, and cool to the touch.

Fu took out his own mask and pointed to the top of it, showing her the Yang sign on the top of his. "These masks have been passed down in the clan for hundreds of years. They have never been broken, or separated." He explained. "So take care of it. This is very important."

Lan Fan nodded and bowed to him once again. "Thank you Grandfather." She looked back up to him. "For everything."

Fu nodded. "Now don't go getting soft on me. Go now. Put on your clothes and run along to the palace. You don't want to be late."

Lan Fan smiled and turned to walk out of the room. "Oh and Lan Fan…"

Lan Fan stopped where she was walking and felt a familiar chill. She heard a small pinch of air, like someone was throwing a sharp object. She grabbed the nearest book and held it in front of her just in time to protect herself from the push knife that was hurtling towards her.

Grandfather Fu chuckled. "Well done."

(-)

Ling sighed, looking out across the countryside at the scenery before him. It was ridiculously boring at the palace, and he kind of wished he wasn't royalty. He saw the commoners having more fun that he was, and they barely had anything to their name. There were many times when he tried to get involved with them, but his father forbade it. He pouted a bit.

"Master Ling! Your bodyguard is here to meet you." said one of the maids, poking her head around his bedroom door.

He turned around and looked at her flatly and nodded. The maid bowed her head and closed the door behind her. He didn't need a bodyguard, he could protect himself. He was trained for combat and everything. But he did know that the clan protecting his family was trained a lot harder, and were more skilled in ways he was not. He just hoped this guy wasn't a complete wimp; he would trade for a different one, just as he had before.

He walked down the long corridor, everyone but his brothers and sisters bowing to him respectfully. He sighed impatiently. He wasn't all that into this amount of respect. He believed in a united country, not divided. All that did was create rivalry between clans. There were many people that had risked their heads, literally, to kill either him, or his other brothers and sisters. He wasn't complaining really, as long as it wasn't him. It cut down on the competition.

He walked into the grand hall and dropped to his knees to bow to his father. "Ling. I see you've made it here. Your new bodyguard is here." His father boomed.

(-)

Lan Fan walked into the grand entrance and into the grand hall, her back straight, her defenses up and her eyes scanning the environment. Her father had taught her to be alert at all times, hence, the push knife incident. Now, it just became a habit. If her Grandfather wasn't putting her to the test, her rotten brothers were. And they could pop up anywhere.

When she reached the throne, she kept her eyes low. It was disrespectful to look at the emperor, especially before bowing. She bowed down on her knees, her nose almost touching the ground and then sat back on her knees, still keeping her eyes to the red felt carpet under her.

"I am here to retrieve my young master." She said in a strong and flat voice.

Ling looked at her and felt his heart drop. Not only because she was pretty, but because she was a girl. He had no idea they had any women in their clan, he only knew of the eleven brothers. He blinked once, then twice at her and then looked to his father, who put a hand to his chin and rubbed. "Very well." He said, his voice filling the entire hall. "You will be protecting my 12th son, Ling."

Lan Fan nodded her head but still keeping her vision low. "Yes, your majesty. My clan is honored to serve your family."

"You may go."

Lan Fan bowed once more and stood up, turning to leave the King's foyer. Ling went before her and led her into his chambers. She returned her vision ahead of her until they were in the courtyard. All she saw was his back. She sighed a bit. Good. Because she would be watching that back for the rest of her life…

Ling turned and she gave him a curt bow, still not seeing her new master. She was nervous about the whole thing. She lifted her eyes to him, still keeping her steely expression. "My name is Lan Fan. I will be your assassin and protector from now on. Your wish is my command, Master Ling."

Ling smiled at her once her eyes met his. It made her kind of nervous, with him looking into her that way. "Nice to meet you Lan Fan."

Nice? Hardly. He was acting way too polite with her. She had to correct this immediately. "Uhm, Master Ling? If I may speak?"

Ling raised an eyebrow at her. "You don't have to ask me permission for anything."

Lan Fan was taken aback, but still kept her respectful ways. "I believe you are acting a bit lenient to me. Might I ask why?"

Ling chuckled. "It's because I don't believe in a strained relationship between the protector and the protected." He said, shrugging.

Lan Fan blinked at him. She could already tell, that this was going to make her weak not only as a protector, but as an assassin altogether. "But I am your servant. You are supposed to treat me with discipline-"

"Don't worry about it Lan Fan. As long as you're with me, you don't have to worry about being treated so harshly." Ling interrupted.

"Does this have to do with me being a girl?" She implored.

Ling shook his head. "If anything, I trust you will do a better job of protecting me than any of your brothers will."

"But my Lord—"

"Lan Fan I mean it!"

Lan Fan blinked at his raised voice, his expression much more serious than before.

"That is my order. You don't have to be so uptight with me, got it?" Ling said, looking directly at her. He didn't want her to be so uncomfortable. He was looking forward to having her by his side. She seemed pretty reliable, her will to stick to the rules was proof enough that she was going to keep him safe, at any means necessary.

Lan Fan wanted to protest but instead bowed her head, obeying his request. "Yes Master Ling. I understand perfectly."

First chapter is always the shortest! I promise I will elaborate more on their relationship in the next chapter, I bump their age up about two years in the next chapter.

So I hoped you liked how I introduced them. I figure since the culture is so rigid, Lan Fan would be the more traditional one than Ling would be.

The next chapter will be up soon! Feel free to leave a review, I would love a reason to keep on writing!

Thanks for reading!