Author's Notes:

Hey Fanfictioners! I really hope you enjoy my first chapter of Havoc! I'm working on chapter 2 now. It should be uploaded soon. If you are slightly confused by the protagonist, here is a small explanation of who she is. Her name is Florence (need a middle name) Havoc (Character belongs to me .). She is the older sister of Jean Havoc (Character belongs to Hiromu Arakawa), a character created by Hiromu Arakawa for Full Metal Alchemist. She is addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes, hence the smoking, and is best friends with Maes Hughes (Character belongs to Hiromu Arakawa). Hope that helped. Any-whoo, please,please, PLEASE leave feedback. I really want to improve my writing skills, though I am pretty good already, but not the best.

We all knew each other, the military kids. Our parents all knew each other too. Most of us moved around a lot. Some stayed in Central once there. I have almost always lived in a small town far away from Central, along with my brother and parents. I grew up with many people in the city who I work with now. I still wish we were children, when nothing mattered. Now we're the military's pawns. The slaves to the master. The dogs to the owner, who are in the midst of a civil war.

A gust of wind blew my hair across my red face on the dark, cloudy August morning. The fall breeze chilled me to the bone. My hands were tucked into my soft trench coat pockets. I looked down at the ground as I shuffled along the grey pavement. I eyed a young boy who ran across the road to reach a girl leaping after a tiny silver puppy. Sniffling in the numbing draft, I continued on. The cigarette that clung to my blushed lips let off gusts of dirty coloured smoke that sailed away and eventually disappeared into the breeze. I adjusted the collar of my deep blue uniform hiding underneath my jacket. A brick building I passed loomed over me as I stared up into a window with a tall adolescent waved down at me and yelled out 'Hi Mrs. Soldier!' I gave her a curtly nod. She must have spotted the decorative strips of gleaming gold along my neckband. Still pacing on, I watched the bulky building of Central come into view as I carried on my way to work.

I reached the building after I passed the towering wall just as I saw a crowd of soldiers enter. Today was the day the command called in every single soldier anywhere in Amestris to Central City. The Ishbalan war was in progress. The highest of commanders needed more and more backup, as all the subordinates were brutally murdered. I clearly spotted many people I hadn't seen in ages enter the building. Gosh, it put a smile on my face.

No one noticed me as I climbed the stone-work stairs to the main entrance. As soon as I hit the crowd, I saw faces turn. Most of the soldiers turned and brought their right hands to their forehead into a salute. I just so happened to be a superior. I was the Amestrian Army's Lieutenant General. The men and women of different ages and heights all began to notice, and pivoted around to look at me. One man stood out though. He stood their glaring at me, arms crossed. I gave him a frown back. He knew me well; we had grown up together with a big rivalry. This man was Roy Mustang. Both our goal was to replace King Bradley. Roy was really jealous of me at this point though, since he was only Colonel. Green with envy in fact. We had known each other since I was 3 and he had been 2.

'Colonel Mustang' I began. 'Salute please.' The Flame Alchemist, as was his State Alchemist title, showed no sign of movement, except for a blink of his eyes. There was a long silence between everyone here. I must scare a lot of people I thought to myself with a silent chuckle. 'No need to stand there like that!' I laughed, taking the dangling cigarette out of my mouth and holding it between two fingers. They all dropped their arms. Some of the soldiers watched as the gassy vapour drifted into the air out of the cigarette. Someone else caught my eye. He was a lanky man with glasses. Though the sun wasn't shining outside, the light that peeped through the grey clouds caught on his square frames and shone a small glare. I smiled. It was Hughes. He had been one of my best friends since the first grade. He stood there with a silly grin. 'Move along.' I commanded and the sea of rabble dressed in dark blue military uniforms flowed through the doors. Hughes still stood there, beaming his wide smile. I ran up to him and squeezed him. It sent new warmth into my body.

'Hey Florence.' He said as I let go 'Fine day for a war!'

I gave him a fake scowl, and shifted back to an amused expression.

'Maes. Joker as usual.' I sniggered.

'So, are you excited your brothers' here?' he asked.

'Yes.' I replied slipping my cigarette back into my mouth and puffed.

'Jean said he would be here soon. Knowing him, he's gunna be late.'

Nodding, I looked at my heavy watch.

'Almost time to get equipped.' I noted. Hughes accepted this.

'I should go then. I'll see you around.' Maes spoke.

'See you later, then, Lieutenant Colonel.'

I watched him go, than shouted a few words of advice to him 'Remember not to get shot!'

His booming laugh echoed around the area. I sighed. God, it was great to see him again. Last time I had seen Hughes was maybe around 3 years ago. Central was always busy, and I was constantly overloaded with paperwork. I slipped my reddened hands back into my pockets, and swivelled around. And who should I see coming up the stairs, but Jean Havoc.

'Hey sis!' He yelled casually, snuffing out his own butt and chucking it behind him.

'Jean!' I cheered. He slowly strode over to me, lighting up another smoke on his lighter, and sticking it into his mouth. By now, we both knew how to talk with cigarettes resting on the border of our lips. He smoothed back his blond hair as I hugged him.

We may have been in a war, but this was a great day for me. The two of us paced into the building, and entered the vast main entrance. It was packed with people rushing everywhere. Secretaries, high officials, soldiers, recruits, and everyone else zooming in and out and everywhere. 'Gee...' I started. My brother and I had a habit of speaking this word when we were surprised or saddened. Jean, whom resembled me so much, we could be twins, dragged me through the mess towards the weaponry department. He was my younger brother though. Every soldier was to gear up every day because of the possibility of an attack.

'OUT OF THE WAY! LIEUTENANT GENERAL FLORENCE HAVOC COMING THROUGH!' my brother shouted over the noise of the crowd. He always had had a loud voice. Jean tended to seem calm and collected, but never was around me. Heads whipped around and people moved apart. 'Now I see what your job is like.' Jean snickered, puffing a wisp of smoggy air into the mix of soldiers and citizens. 'Do you have a secretary?' he asked.

'Yes.' I responded as he pulled me along. We approached the weapons department just as someone cut in front of me. It so happened to be my assistant, Leevia Stone. 'Hey! Leevia!' I whispered. She turned.

'Oh!' Ms. Stone exclaimed, her dark hair bouncing. 'Lieutenant General Havoc!'. Jean let go of my arm and stopped in his tracks. He inclined around and watched my conversation through the flowing groups.

'Do you mind helping me?' I asked.

'No! Not at all! That's what you hired me for!' Leevia said in a worried tone, raising her eyebrows.

'Can you go pick up my gear? Also, get my brother here something too. A rifle would be great. I really don't like this crowd.' I asked, with an added point, nodding my head in Second Lieutenant Havoc's direction.

'Sure... sure!' my secretary said, stepping away, hesitating, saluting, than going.

'Come on Jean.' I said, looking at him with a sheepish look. I seemed lazy and sloth-like.

I surged forward. I didn't think my brother knew where we were going, but he followed anyways. We were heading to my office. As I made my way through the halls, I noticed everybody's expressions. Most looked afraid, concerned, distracted, and disturbed. I could hear the loud thudding of my brothers stomping, well; really, he was walking, but not very quietly. We reached the stairwell and ran up. It was mostly empty, except for a woman who stopped and did a quick salute. I pushed open the heavy door with all my weight for Jean Havoc to catch. He rushed and held it open to slip in behind me. We advanced through the second floors and reached a grand hallway. The walls were lined with dark wood and professionally carved doors. It was magnificent. I was proud to call it 'my hallway'. Jean looked around in awe as a reached a door with a carved unicorn and a plaque reading 'Lieutenant General Florence Havoc'. I twisted the doorknob and shoved it open. The door swung, almost dramatically, revealing a large office with a huge desk and wide windows.

'Holy crap!' Jean swore 'What the hell is this?'

'My office.' I said simply. He looked from a shelf chalk full of books to the carved walls displaying epic battles and remembered military soldiers. I slid down into my chair and sank down into the cushions.

'I am SO tired.' I mumbled.

'That's great.' Jean said absently-minded, inspecting a case with trophies and awards that belonged to me. I sniffed in the smoke-tainted air and puffed out more pollution that floated through the room, up to the engraved ceiling. I yawned a powerful yawn just as my secretary tripped through the doorway, followed by Hughes, carrying 2 rifles.

'Hey.' I smiled at the two. Leevia picked herself up and snatched up the papers she had dropped. I took my cap that I had left on my desk yesterday and tossed it at Maes, who ducked, roaring with laughter. He picked the blue hat up and walked over, placing it on my fancy table, where it belonged. Jean turned and smiled lightly.

'Hello. Just exploring this, I guess you could say, mansion.'

Hughes, still with a large grin pasted on his face, responded.

'I know! It's crazy in here! I can't believe you have this office!'

Ms. Stone nervously fixed up her work and settled into a cushioned stool with tassels hanging off it in the corner. She brought her knees together and sat formally. She looked ridiculous compared to my friend, who dropped the weapons messily on the floor and threw himself into the chair that sat in front of my desk. It wobbled a little and Hughes let his legs dangle over the arm rests. I watched his black boots sway back and forth for a minute until I realized I should say something.

'Thanks.' I spoke mostly aimed to Hughes, as he had carried the guns, but also towards my secretary. Jean sat in the high-backed chair next to Hughes, a little less messily, but tapped his foot on the ground.

'So... what's the schedule for today?' my brother asked as I slipped off my coat and let it hang over the back of my desk chair.

'Nothing much for me.' Hughes replied with a sigh 'Except for guard duty for an hour somewhere in the basement of this labyrinth.'

'I've got paperwork.' I muttered groggily.

'Well, that seems great.' Jean said with sarcasm edging into his voice.

'No.' I groaned, running my hand through my blonde hair. I watched Hughes adjust his glasses and stretch his neck to stare at my brother, who was quite distracted by my pencil, that he was rolling across the glass table top. I gazed at Leevia during this awkward silence. She looked a bit alarmed when I looked at her. Maybe it was us. We all had high ranks in the military.

'Hey, sis, mind if I crash at your place while I'm here?' Jean inquired.

'Naw. It's no problem.' I acknowledged, and then looked to Hughes. 'If you haven't planned staying with someone yet, Hughes, I'll be happy to host you.'

Maes gave me a thoughtful nod. 'I really don't want to impose...'

'It won't bug me. I can deal with that.' I returned, jabbing my thumb towards my brother.

'Oh yeah! And you aren't the one who used to kick people's shins!' Jean sassed. I rolled my eyes.

'You still are holding that?'

'Yup.' God, it was annoying when Jean kept things in his mind we did in our childhood.

'Can you shut up, please?' Hughes exclaimed. Jean and I were slightly taken aback. Maes usually wasn't the kind of person to complain about arguments. Oh well, at least he got my brother to shut his yap.

'Where are your bags?' I asked the two, changing the subject.

'Mine is in a locker in the training room.' My best friend replied. 'I was using the weights earlier, just before your secretary requested my help.'

Jean paused a moment, then said 'My bag is somewhere in the storage room. I'll grab it when we go.'

'Okay.' I answered.

'Anyways, I have to go.' Jean said. 'Papers don't write themselves you know.'

He gave a wave, ruffled my hair, blew on his cigarette, and then vacated the room.

'I should go too.' Maes said. He spun around and got up. I stood up too. We embraced for a few moments, than he smiled and left.

'Meet me here after work!' I said just as he closed the door behind him. Ms. Stone came over to me, handed me 2 papers, smiled nervously, then opened the door, and embarked on her way. I watched her shuffle through the halls, fiddling with her gold chain necklace. I shut the door and took a few steps to my desk and collapsed into the armchair. I placed the papers on my desk and accidentally breathed in some smoke. Too bad, Ithought, that Hughes and Jean can't stay any longer. At least I can chat with them tonight. I coughed a little, than got down to business.