Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but since school started i've been really tied up, lol. So here's a brand new story for everyone even though I just started another brand new story a while ago, lol. But just incase I dont feel like working on one story i'll work on another I feel like working on that way it wont cause a writers block. But I do hope you enjoy this new story! It's REALLY old! I started it like 2 years ago but never finished it, lol. Good thing too cause it really sucked. It took me an hour to revise this! I had to practically rewrite it, lol. But please feel free to review and tell me how you enjoy it! It'll mean so much!

Enjoy!


Chapter 1: A life for a life

The sun shone through the worn, ripped curtains of the mansion windows.

'That's all the light I ever need.'

The silent wind giving off it's presence as the faded curtains blew slowly against the walls.

'I shiver as I try and pull down the little patches of clothing across my back, hiding the scars and bruises away from the world to see.'

The floors and walls damp and cold. All the poles and lanterns rusted as moss hung from above. Bugs flew everywhere, catching themselves in dusty webs that layed in the darkest of corners.

'This is my home. I have no regrets.'

A tall light blond haired girl reached her hand down into her rusty bucket, pulling out a faded worn out rag from the cold water. She squeezed out the water that had resided in it and slapped it down across the floor, scrubbing away at it's filthiness.

This was her life. This is where she belonged. This was the place she would live and die in for years to come. Like nothing else, but a common slave. Starting from the time she was still young she had already seen so much pain. The whips. The screams. The death. The cries. All but her own. Fearful scenes she had encountered many times in her life. Years passed and eventually she began to live with it, not bothering to speak out. Like that would do any good.

Minutes passed and all she could hear was the sound of her rapid breathing as she continued to scrub her way down the corridors. Years passed as she began to grow much older, more calmer than the little crybaby she use to be. Not that she cared how she acted anymore. Even after watching so many deaths, it was the death of her once strong and beautiful mother that had shut her up for good. It taught her to never give up and always find that little hole to freedom. No matter what the cost.

Eventually the blond sighed rising up from her squatted position to wipe away the sweat that had began to form from her brows. 'What a pain in the ass. Can't that bastard ever take a good look and see that this place will never be clean.' She grimaced as she stared into the dirty bucket of water below her. She could still see her rotted out reflection. Dark blue eyes, tangled blond hair, bruises, cuts, scars, dirt, all over her pale body. Rinking of dead fish and maggots. She frowned and looked away. Not something she liked seeing.

Small taps against the floors carefully caught the blond's attention. Her ears twitched as familiar voices sounded out, "Heeeey! Melody! There you are!" Called a feminine voice. "Hey Kane! Over here! I found her!" She called back.

"About time Yumi, hey Melody!" Called a loud boy like voice.

The blond named Melody blinked as she turned her head in the direction of the two voices. She quickly caught sight of two tall and brown haired boy and girl running her way, both of the smiling with what appeared to be relief.

She smiled slightly and chuckled, removing strands of her hair from her face, "Oh hey. It's only you two. What a surprise. What are you doing up here? I thought you both had kitchen duty."

Eventually the two came to a stop in front of they're friend and smiled down at her, "Hey! Sorry if we're interrupting anything but we actually caught a little break. Hope we're not getting you into any trouble by stopping by to see you." The brown haired girl answered.

Melody shook her head, "Na, your fine. I was actually just finishing up. Have you heard anything new about the auction yesterday?"

The two sighed deeply, "Yeah actually. Another slave just got sold. Amaya." The girl named Yumi responded quietly.

"What?" Melody asked surprised. "You mean that one girl who nearly got scalped for accidentally spilling hot tea all over fatso?"

"Yep."

"Wow...," Melody mumbled lowering her head. "You'd think it would end already."

"Yeah I know, but there have been alot of buyers here lately. I guess since it's getting close to harvest season they've been needing more help around the crop fields and such." Kain shrugged, crossing his arms.

"Neh, probably."

"Yep! I'm sure if that many people are coming here now to buy us slaves it won't be long till king Edward and his new queen will come down here to buy some as well for that big garden of theirs. It's going to need alot of slaves from everything i've heard." Yumi retorted.

"Hm, well it's about that time. I feel bad for whoever gets picked to go with those snobs. Can't be any worse here than it is there." Melody grumbled, crossing her pale scarred arms over her raggy clothed chest.

Yumi sighed. "Actually i'd beg to differ. I seriously wouldn't mind getting picked. Especially if it's anywhere near that hunk of a king and his enchanting garden." She mumbled dreamily, her eyes sparkling.

"Yumi!" Kain and Melody rolled their eyes. "Not you too."

Yumi merely shrugged and smiled, "Well you can't blame me. Any place is better than here, and i'm sure the king is alot nicer too."

Melody scoffed, "Ugh, yeah right. What fantasy world do you live in? If you haven't already heard those terrifying stories from the last war that ended a few years back, than maybe then you'd change your mind about your so called 'king'."

Yumi frowned, opening her mouth to say something back until she was interrupted by loud footsteps coming up and around the palace stairways. The three slaves turned they're heads towards the direction the footsteps were coming from. They blinked for a moment in curiosity, recognizing the footsteps before quickly turning to look back at each other. "Dammit, He's back!" Melody groaned as she quickly began gathering up her cleaning supplies.

"Do you want us to stay with you?' Kain asked worriedly.

Melody shook her head and sighed, "No thanks. I'm fine. No reason you guys should get whipped for trying to help me. Just go on ahead."

"But Melody-..."

"I said go dumbass!" She shot back at him, standing up.

Yumi and Kain looked at her for a moment and then at each other, deciding wether or not it was okay to leave before turning back at her and nodding, "Alright, see you later. Hopefully..." Kain whispered as him and Yumi slowly waved goodbye at they're old friend as they then turned in the other direction of the hallway and began running back towards they're room.

Melody sighed as they left and turned back towards the thumping footsteps coming her way from the other side of the hallway. Along with a booming voice.

"Melody!" Called the deep thundering voice, "Ah! My darling! There you are. I've been looking all over for you my dear." The voice called out to her. Melody frowned at the voice, shivering at it's tormenting shrill. Her eyes locked on the big blob, taking notice into his disgusting wrinkled and fat features as he neared his way towards her. His short, almost bald looking, black hair slicked back into a resting position on his small fat head. His giant golden rings shining and glimmering in the small rays of sunlight that shone through. The hanging fat danced off his body as he walked, already showing much of it's disgust through the extra large white t-shirt that hung loosely off his body giving her more cleavage than she needed to see.

She grimaced at his sight, 'Does he ever stop eating? Ugh, what a sicko.' She thought lowering her head and the rest of body downward in a bow as he neared her. "Good afternoon master Pedro." She greeted formally.

The tall big man called Pedro smirked down at her, "Ah yes. Good afternoon my dearest Melody. I've been looking everywhere for you this morning. I was almost wondering if you had decided to run away from me in the middle of the night." He spoke slowly taking in her filthy form.

"No master. Of course not." She answered still bowing.

He snickered, "Yes, of course. I would think not," He whispered darkly to himself as he placed his giant buldging hand ontop of her head. "You may rise." He ordered.

Melody hesitated at first but slowly did what she was told.

He smirked, "Good girl."

"Is there anything you wished for me to do or speak to me about master?" She asked watching the smirk on his face turn into an evil grin. She bit back a gulp.

"Why yes actually. I'm so glad you asked, you see 've been feeling so lonely recently and i've been dying for some company. More or less comfort if you will to relieve me of this lonely feeling." He spoke darkly, his eyes glowing with mischievous as his hands slowly began to work they're way from the top of her head down to the sides of her body. Caressing her parts roughly.

She trembled at the touched and pulled back slightly, "W-What could I do?" She asked wearily and more demanding.

He brought his cold hands up through her ripped clothing, bringing his head down next to hers as his lips closed around her ear as he kissed it softly. "I think you should already know my dear." He whispered darkly, licking the inner shell.

Melody gasped and struggled to pull away but his grip was too strong. He laughed in amusement, "Ah, ah, ah my dear. I won't hurt you...much." He grinned evilly as he pulled her tighter against his body as she squirmed and whimpered in fear. But there was nothing she could do. Nothing anyone could do. She was helpless. Just like every other time...


'Ugh, I wonder what Ed could want now. It had better be important for him to of interrupted me while I was training.' Thought a young, tall boy glumly as he walked down a long royal corridor of a golden hallway, his long sandy blondish hair floating behind him in a nicely tight pony tail. The boy yawned tiredly. It had been a long day for everyone that worked in the stylish castle that had belonged to the royal Elric brothers. After retiring from helping out with the gardens and saying goodbye to all his women training apprentices, he had gone back to his room to relax for the day only for it to come to an end whenever one of his guards told him that his older brother, the king, wanted to speak with him in the throne room. He walked casually down the main hall, closer to the giant golden doors that were now coming into view, shoving his hands into his loose blue pockets.

"I wonder what brother would want this time. He's been acting strange lately ever since Princess Clara came down from her kingdom to meet with us last week." The boy mumbled to himself as he approached the giant doors. With just a swift movement of his right hand he knocked loudly against the door.

"Yes?!" Boomed a manly voice, "Who is there?!"

The boy shook his head and began opening the doors to enter himself. He peaked his head in getting a good glimpse of two people sitting down a long dark red carpet that stretched out about 12 maybe 14 feet towards them as they were sitting in fancy blue and red chairs with golden arm rests and legs that were attatched. In the big blue chair sat a beautiful blond haired woman with blue eyes, pale skin, and a gorgeous light red dress that poofed out all around her, barely showing much of her figure as it hid it all underneath. Next to her in the red chair sat a very handsome tall, blond haired man with long hair flowing down his shoulder in a casual pony tail, his red cape, blue spenders, and golden chest plate that marked his royal crest, the Flammel symbol, across it. His golden eyes shining with relief.

"Hey Edward!" The boy called out waving casually towards him.

The man named Edward smiled, "Hey Alphonse! There you are! About time you showed up." He chuckled, "Come on in. Close the door behind you while we're at it. Me and Winry have missed you all day." He spoke happily, greeting the boy called Al warmly.

Al smiled and nodded as he quietly closed the door behind him, his dark blue cape, which also showed the royal crest across it and his golden chest plate, flowing behind him as he walked towards him and Winry.

The blond, Winry, giggled and waved happily towards Al, "Alphonse! Where have you been!? I haven't see you all day little brother! You missed the presentation of my new automail design." She called out with disappointment.

"Heheh. Sorry Winry." Al said apologetically scratching the back of his neck, "I guess it sort of slipped my mind. Maybe you could show me it next time though. Maybe early tomorrow morning after breakfast in the gazebo in the gardens?" He suggested laughing nervously.

She smiled and nodded, "Alright. As long as you promise to be there."

Al smiled, "I promise." He nodded turning towards Ed, "So you wanted to see me brother?" He asked his expression changing into a curious one.

Ed nodded and sighed deeply. "Yes I did." He coughed and straitened up slightly as he continued, "I apologize for calling you down here after you have been working hard with your training school in the backyard all day but you see we needed to talk about something rather important." He said hesitantly.

Al blinked and tilted his head. "What is it?"

"Uhm, I really don't know how to put this." He laughed nervously, "But do you remember those few days ago when Princess Clara had left and me and Winry were called to the court meeting a day after her departure?" He asked getting a small nod from Al, "Well you see. I've been thinking alot about it lately and after a while i've thought that maybe might be a good time to tell you something. Something that the court has been recommending for quit some time now..." He said quietly.

"Really?" Al arched his left eyebrow, "Well I guess that would explain what's been going on here lately." He said thoughtfully, "But what is it? Do we have to go to war again or something? A mission of some sort?"

Ed shook his head, "No. Not exactly." He sighed, "Although it may not be all that good to you, the court thinks that since it's getting close to your 21st birthday in 5 months that it's time for you to take it up a notch and start growing up a little. Maybe even running the country for a while when me and Winry have to be somewhere else for a few days or maybe even weeks."

"Yeah? So...?"

"So basically when that time comes your gonna have to give up your prince title and become king someday. When your officially marked as 21, meaning your an illegal adult and capable of such, you have to rule."

Al stared at his Ed, "You mean I get a chance to rule the country for a little while?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"Well that sounds actually pretty cool." Al smiled confidently, "Is that really why the court called you and Winry there? To tell you that?" He asked with a chuckle, "I mean if that's all it was then I don't see why they didn't invite me."

Ed laughed nervously, "W-Well that's only half of it little brother. You see since your still unmarried and have been a little stubborn in finding a bride, such as Clara for instance, you can't necassarly rule on your own. You have to be married, and since 21 is such a crucial age for people like us the court has set up a law..."

Al's smile immediately dropped. "Law?" He asked uncertainly.

"Y-Yeah...the court has debated and finally decided that if you do not choose your bride within these next few months than they will have no choice but to-..." He paused. He couldn't say it. Not to his brother. His little brother. But he had no choice. He took a deep breath and let it all out, "Then they will have no choice but to choose your own bride within that last month and force you to marry her. Otherwise if you refuse than you will no longer be prince of the kingdom and be stripped of your powers." He choked out, turning his head away so he wouldn't have to see Al's reaction.

Al was emotionless. His mind went blank. He had no clue what to say. He knew the court could be a little unfair sometimes but this? It took a few moments for him to finally register what Ed has just told him. His calm, innocent expression was now gone from his features. Instead it was replaced with an angry scowl. "What?" He growled out, "What do you mean I have to simply pick my own bride or else I loose all my titles as prince!?" He asked angrily.

Winry sighed and laughed nervously beside Ed, "Now Alphonse, please listen. The court has no choice. They don't want to do it as much we do but it's for the kingdom! You can't rule it by yourself. You have to have someone rule it with you."

"So!? You and Ed are barely gone anyways! And even when you are it's only for a few days! I don't see why they would have to choose someone for me to love! It's my business!" Al snapped.

Winry winced at his tone. She opened her mouth to say something else but was quickly stopped as Ed raised his right hand, which was completely made of metal, silencing her. He stared down at his younger brother sympathetically along with Winry. He knew it wasn't fair. But he didn't want to loose the only family he had left. "I'm sorry Alphonse." He shook his head, "But we have no other choice. We have already made some arrangements for a few princesses in the west to come and meet with you. In the courts order." He retorted calmly.

Al's eyes widened as he stared with disbelief at his older brother. "W-What...? H-How-...How could you do that!? Why!? Why did you do that brother?! Your actually agreeing with them!?" He shouted.

Ed sighed and looked away, "Ugh dammit Al. I have no choice. I don't want to loose you Alphonse!"

"But that's no fair! I can't believe your actually going through with this! I thought I could trust you and Winry! I thought I could trust you! But I guess I was wrong! You can't trust anyone in this life! Especially your own family!"

"Alphonse!" Winry shouted surprised.

"Winry." Ed nudged her signaling for her to hush. She looked at him with a look that said 'No way in hell!' But his look told her otherwise. He turned back to Al and frowned, "I'm told you already Alphonse. But it's a law I cannot change and you will go through with it. You have no choice there. At least be safeknowing that i'm the one choosing for you. Knowing that you at least have a choice in the groups I pick for you." He said clearly.

Al turned away trying to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. He did not want to fall in love. He didn't want to rule the kingdom. But he knew he also had no choice. He didn't want to be separated from his only family as much as Ed. "I-I don't want this. I'm not ready! I'll fall in love when I feel it to be true! But until then I will make my own decisions on what I want to do! And you will not stop be brother! Your OR Winry!" He shouted turning around sharply on his out and on out the door, slamming the giant golden doors behind him creating a big boom and rumble throughout the castle.

"No Alphonse! WAIT!" Ed called, but it was too late. Al had already fled. He sighed deeply and fell back against his chair, placing his right hand over his eyes as he began rubbing his temples.

Winry sighed along with him and looked over at him, "Oh Edward..." She whispered quietly wrapped her arms around him in a comforting well, "That didn't go as well as you'd hoped it would did it?" She asked softly.

He breathed in deeply, "No. Not at all." He exhaled, blowing some of his blond strands from his eyes, "But at least we told him."

She nodded kissing the top of his head, "Yeah. At least he knows what's been going on lately and you don't have to keep lying to him."

He sighed and removed his hand from his face as he looked off to the side, "Yeah, but then why do I feel so guilty?"

"I understand how you feel. We all do. Al is such a sweet kid that's not ready to give up his childhood just yet and it's unfair to ask so much of him at a time like this. But maybe it's also a big help. I mean you and I spend all the days with each other and I bet Al feels all alone when he's with us." She said softly, "So maybe it's time for him to find someone too. Someone he can talk to when he needs them. Someone he can love for all eternity..."

Ed chuckled. "I wish it was that simple. But it'll be a long time before that ever happens." He said looking up at her with a warm gaze.

She smiled happily down at him, "Well love takes time. Especially for the best of friends." She giggled leaning down to nuzzle his nose.

Ed laughed with her and pulled away slightly, "Your right. Lets just hope that Al will eventually see it that way too. Who knows. Maybe he'll find his own best friend and marry her one day too."

The both smiled and agreed on that as they thought of many different ways for their sweet Al to become happy and not so lonely in this cold hearted world they called Amestris.