"It's Hot today huh, Conner?" Esmè asked her companion.
The white husky just pulled at the dark purple cloak that hung on her shoulders. She just sighed sadly and tugged the cloth from his mouth and continued walking. The two silently walked the streets of the city, which the name Esmè could not remember, to the train station. After paying for the ticket they both went to board the train.
"Try not to cause too much trouble on the train, Conner." Esmè whispered as she laid down across the seat.
"Come on!" A childish laugh echo through the air.
"I'm coming, Luna!" Another voice filled the air.
It was raining which meant it was the best time to play outside. Puddles were scattered about the large yard, rain poured from the sky and it was mere seconds before they were soaked from head to toe.
"Now, now, girls. What will your parents say when you get home?" An elder lady called from her porch.
"It's okay, Nè!" Esmè called back with a grin.
"Yeah we're best friends we'll protect each other no matter what!" Luna said.
"Best friends forever?" Luna asked wrapping her arm around Esmè.
"Right!" Esmè finished the hug by wrapping both arms around her friend.
"Hey girls! Smile!" Nè called.
The girls looked up to see her holding a camera. The girls grinned and till with one arm wrapped around one another the two threw their hands up as if they were cheering.
Esmè awoke with a start and Conner was whimpering next to her. He obviously sensed her uneasiness. She rubbed his head to reassure him as she sat up.
"Let's go buddy." Esmè said quietly standing from her spot.
Esmè pulled her hood up, kept her face down and tried to blend in with the small crowed as she walked past military men. Apparently the men was very observant. One caught her arm and started to tug her away from the crowd. She couldn't let them see her face but she didn't want to cause a commotion, she was stuck. Suddenly the man that was holding her yelled out in pain and released his grip on her.
"What's wrong?" Someone asked as she made her escape.
"Something bit me! See! Oh god! I'm bleeding!" the man's cries got quieter as she ran.
"After that girl!"
Esmè ran faster and when they could barely see her Conner caught up to her. She heard bullets fire from behind and she saw a few hit the pavement. So much for not making a commotion. She had to draw them away from the people or they were going to get hurt.
More shots began to ring out as she turned down an ally. As Esmè came to the end of the alley she turned and suddenly slammed into someone. Groans sounded from both bodies and Esmè opened her eyes to have golden ones stare back into her own.
"Ah! I-I'm so sorry!" Esmè blush furiously and stood. Before the boy could say anything a big armored guy spoke up scaring the life out of her.
"Come on we need to stop, Marcoh!" A big armored man said as the sound of boot clad feet pounded against the pavement.
Upon hearing the sound looked back down the alley to see the group standing at the other, her hood was still cover her face so they couldn't see her, but anyway they raised their guns. Before she could react they open fired. She covered herself and was ready for the bullets but surprisingly nothing came. Surely they weren't that bad at aim.
She opened her eyes to see the armor guy was blocking the bullets. Suddenly Esmè was being pulled along by the golden eyed boy. She stumbled a bit before she finally got the idea and ran. Soon enough the armored man was following them while holding Conner. She simply smiled lightly back at him.
As they turn man different corners the military men fell behind, but they kept going. They turned one more corner and a man stood there, hands on his knees catching his breath.
"Marcoh!" Golden eyes yelled making him turn around. "We aren't going to take your research away!" He tried.
"No… I can't go there." The Marcoh man backed away from them.
Suddenly a man with a large 'x' shaped scar on his jumped over a wall. Everybody seemed to know him as they all froze. He landed and looked at them before turning and reaching for Marcoh. But the armored man grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Now I know you're nothing but an empty armor suit!" He said before hitting his suit and destroying some of it.
"Al!" the golden eyed boy yelled.
"Empty armor?" Esmè whispered, a bit startled as he fell.
She watched as the boy ran forwards and tried to attack the man. He didn't even get on hit on him no matter how hard he tried. The man simply dodged him before grasping his arm which she just realized was auto-mail! The man's hand started sparking in red, like it did when he punched Al. He was going to destroy his arm!
Without thinking she started towards them but she wasn't fast enough. The boys flew back wards as his arm shattered but she didn't stop. Esmè continued running and kicked towards the man taking him by surprise. She knocked him back a few feet and went for another blow but he caught her leg in midair.
"Auto-mail also?" He asked gripping her leg, but he was right, she had an auto-mail leg.
He pulled back and kicked her away while still holding her leg the force tore the limb from its socket, which sucked it was her whole leg, all the way up to her hip. She screamed out in pain and she could hear Conner growling and the man walked past her.
Esmè clapped her gloved hands together and then brought her right down into a puddle before drawing a frozen sword from it. She laid on the ground holding her hip in hopes of easing the pain as she cried.
"You said your older brother died in Ishbal, right?" The boy asked.
"He was killed by a State Alchemist, yes." The man answered.
"I am an older brother too, then kill me! That would make and equivalent trade." He said.
"Brother! You said that wasn't an equivalent trade at all!" Al yelled from his spot on the ground.
"He's not a state Alchemist! I should be enough!" Ah so he was protecting his brother.
"I will not kill your brother, but the misery I went through after losing my brother and people will never be satisfied with any equivalent trade!" He placed his right hand on the boys head.
Al yelled for his brother to get up and run but he stayed put. His arm started to glow but before anything could happen Esmè clapped her hands together and pressed them into the puddle in front of her. The water started to glow and a tentacle formed from it and grabbed the man and pulled him towards her.
"You want a state alchemist, there's one right here." She pulled right sleeve to reveal the clock.
The man stared at her before advancing on her. She rubbed Conner's head to stop his growling but that did nothing, the husky stepped in front of her protectively so she grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
"Sorry buddy." She whispered feeling a hand on the side of her head.
After a minute of waiting she realized she was still alive. She looked up to see the man, Marcoh holding up a red crystal and the man that was about to kill her was backed away from her holding his arm as if he was in pain.
"Why didn't you run?" The golden eyed boy yelled.
"I looked up an old document in Ishbal. On it I saw the same marking on your arm." Marcoh ignored the boy. "Even if incomplete, it has the same effects as the Philosopher's stone. After all that arm is—." he was cut off.
"No! Don't say it!" The man yelled.
"W-what's going on?" Esmè stuttered.
"Marcoh isn't using the power of the stone?" The boy asked.
Suddenly the man started running towards Marcoh. As a reaction Marcoh threw the stone at the man and he caught it in his hand. He yelled out in pain and his arm started to glow again. When the stone disappeared he turned to run out of the alley but was stopped at the sight of the military.
The man smashed his hand into the ground and created a dust cloud. Esmè used this a cover too, she quickly pulled of her cloak and held it out to Conner and with a dog nod he grabbed it and ran off. Without the cloak now she looked different. She was missing a leg, you could see her face, and her long sleeve shirt was a bright blue, plus they didn't know that her dog bit one of them.
"Al! Are you okay?" The boy asked crawling over to his brother.
"Idiot!" Al yelled before punching his brother.
"What was that for?" He asked.
"Why didn't you just leave me and run?" Al asked seemingly very mad.
"You would've been killed." The boy exclaimed.
"That's not a good reason for you to choose death, stupid!" Al yelled.
"Don't call your older brother stupid!" he yelled back.
"You were asking to have yourself killed right in front of him." Esmè spoke up from her spot on the ground. "That's pretty stupid if you ask me. Nobody wants to watch the person they are so very close to die." She added.
"We need to live. We need to research the Philosopher's stone and return to our normal bodies. So no matter what I won't let you die alone!" Al yelled.
Esmè heard something metal drop next to her and then something wet slid across her face. She opened her eyes slightly to see Conner. Her eyes closed again and she reached out to pet him as the boys continued to talk.
Esmè woke with a small groan, before she could sit up she felt an irritating pain in her hip. Her eyes shot open and she reached for her leg, or where it was supposed to be anyway. She looked around for her leg and noticed she was lying against a wall on the floor.
"Are you looking for this?" Someone said while a metal leg came into her view.
She sat up startled and groaned at the pain. Conner whimpered and nudged her face in attempt to make her feel better.
"You should be careful, and not move too much." Esmè looked up to see Al and The golden eyed boy.
"T-thank you." Esmè blushed and quickly snatched it from the golden eyed boy's hand.
Esmè stared at the ground willing her blush to go away, but it was hopeless, she could feel their stare piercing her. They all sat there like that in silence. Finally Al Spoke up.
"I'm Alphonse Elric and this is my older brother Edward." He said.
"I-I'm Esmè, uh, Esmè Krants. This is Conner. It's nice to meet you." Esmè smiled slightly.
"Ah that's your dog? I don't like him." Edward glared at her dog who simply glared back.
Suddenly a large shirtless man and a group of military people walked in to the room. Esmè's eyes widened at the sight and she shifted uncomfortably. The shirtless guy started to do poses and was talking about how he was going to fix in beauty. Al helped Esmè on to the counter as the shirtless guy got closer.
"The method to affix a soul to armor, only one person knows it. That would be Fullmetal." Another man spoke up. "That's why their bond is so close." He added.
"Yeah, but first I need to do something about my arm first." Edward said.
"If Edward can't use alchemy at all…" A blonde woman started.
"Then he's just a foul mouthed terror." Another man added with a chuckle.
"Who was just ready to give his life for his brother's safety…" Esmè said running her finger across the rim of the bottle of water they gave her. "Anyway, I need to go find someone to fix my leg." Esmè clapped her hands together and place one over the bottle and pulled the water out to form a 'y' shaped staff before freezing it. That's when they noticed the clock on her wrist.
The water in the bottle was just enough, she was short and it didn't need to be that thick so she was fine. She got off the table and steadied herself before quickly making her way out the door. She ignored the looks she received and continued to go.
"Come, Conner."
Esmè watched as a few kids played around with Conner, yet he looked as if he was miserable. One was on his back pulling at his ears yelling 'Giddy up horsey!' another was pulling on his tail and the one odd ball kid just poked him repeatedly. She noticed the train had stopped and they were at a station.
She stood with her now wooden crutch, she found a stick on the way to the train. She careful got off the train and looked around. This was nice green grass everywhere, it was a beautiful countryside. She hobbled her way down the road. Conner was chasing butterflies as they walked and Esmè simply took her time. She came to realize she didn't know which way she was going or which way she had to go.
"Um. I-I'm sorry for stopping you, but I, uh, I need directions to the auto mail shop located here, c-could you please help me." Esmè asked a man who sat atop of a carriage be lead but a horse.
"I can take you there if you'd like it's a bit from her and from the looks of it, it'll take you awhile to make it there." The man said.
"T-thank you, sir." Esmè opened the door and climbed her way in with a bit of a struggle.
While they rode along Esmè looked out the window enjoying the beautiful scenery. There was the sound of laughter echoing through her head and in the distance she saw herself and another girl playing in the flowers. She smiled and looked at the sky away from the memory.
"Thank you!" Esmè said to the man as he helped her out of the carriage.
"My pleasure. You be careful now." He called as he turned and left.
She hobbled up to the door step and after tripping a few times she finally made it. She knocked on the door and it swung open. Startled she leaned away from the door but without her leg she couldn't catch herself and she started to fall but she was caught by the waist and she gripped the arm. Esmè opened her eyes to find familiar golden ones.
"E-Edward!" She stuttered out.
"Esmè?" he blinked at her.
"Who's at the door ED?" Someone walked up behind him.
It was a pretty blonde girl who was wearing a jumpsuit but the top was hanging around her waist revealing her strapless bra. Esmè blushed brightly and tried to pull herself up but instead caught Edward of guard and pulled him down. They both yelped and landed in a heap of limbs.
"Ah! I-I'm really sorry!" Esmè apologized.
"You stutter a lot." Edward laughed standing up.
"Eh?" She blushed brighter, she knew she stuttered, she had a nervous problem.
"How did this happen?" The girl that she could now call Winry asked looking at the auto mail.
"Uh, a g-guy pulled it off." Esmè pushed her maroon colored bangs her ear, a nervous habit she had.
"Hmm, like the guy who shattered Ed's ar—huh?" Winry noticed the silver chain and the clock on her wrist.
Esmè noticed her staring. So she took it off and held it out to her.
"Do you want to look at it?" She asked.
Winry didn't answer, she slightly nodded. She jumped a bit when the cold metal touched her palm. She looked down at it and then up to Esmè again.
"I knew a girl who was like you, a mechanic. When she saw that I had she looked at like you did and she took it apart and reassembled it. I m-mean, I saw everybody else refuse you so..." Esmè looked down at her lap.
"Thank you!" Winry yelled before running off to work on the small object.
"You didn't have to do that ya know." Edward said with a small smile.
"I-I was just being nice, s-she looked like she really was interested in it." Esmè brushed her hair behind her ear again.
"Would you like to stay here for the night, some wires need to fixed and we can have you ready to go by tomorrow." The short elder lady said.
"T-thank you ma'am." Esmè smiled at her.
"It's no problem at all dearie." She smiled before exiting the room.
Esmè silently looked around the room at the mechanical items lying all around. They seemed really nice, they were friendly and funny, and they offered her a place to stay for the night. For time in a long time. She looked up at the sound of the door opening.
"Hey, dinner is going to be ready soon." Edward said walking over to help her up.
"Oh, th-thanks." Esmè said as they made their way to the dining room
"You really do stutter a lot." He chuckled.
Esmè blushed brightly at his words. "And you're really short." She shot back before covering her mouth.
"You just as tall as me!" he shouted, glaring at her.
"But I don't have a brother who younger and taller than me." She laughed.
"It's the suit!" He yelled.
Esmè winced every time Edward yelled out in pain while they re-attached his limbs. She insisted he go first since he had been waiting longer and after an hour of arguing with each other he finally agreed. After a bit he passed out and the limbs were attached. Pinako move him to the couch while Esmè hobbled over to him. She move the hair that stuck to his sweaty forehead as he slept.
"Your turn, Esmè." Winry put her hand on the shorter girls shoulder.
Esmè took Edwards spot and situated the blanket over her legs while the girls shooed the boys out. The auto-mail had to go all the way to her hip so she had to take off her pants. She hadn't had an auto-mail limb attached since she was eleven when Luna did it last.
"Ready?" They asked as the same time and she nodded.
The two counted like they did for Edward but this time Winry attached it before they got to three. Esmè bit her lip to hold back her scream and before too long she passed out.
Esmè winced and opened her eyes to once more find golden ones. She yelped and sat up smacking their heads together. They both groaned in pain as footsteps bounded into the room after a second laughter filled the air.
"Geez that hurt." Edwards mumbled.
"It's your fault." Esmè told him sitting up.
"You're the one who jumped up!" He yelled.
"You're the one who was staring over me like a creep!" She yelled back.
The two argued for a bit while everybody else laughed. After getting the two ice packs they were sitting at the table glaring at each other. Edward stood up and looked out the window before exiting the room. Curious Esmè followed him out to the yard.
"So you can fix him right away?" Asked Armstrong.
"Yeah, but there's a little trick to it though." Edward removed his brother's head and inside there was a mark.
"It looks like it's written in blood." Esmè said looking closely.
"Yeah, it's my blood. I was desperate." Edward smiled.
Armstrong started to swoon about their brotherly bond and Esmè laughed. The two backed away as Edward began to work. He clapped his hands together and placed them on Al's chest. Al started to glow and his armor began to reform.
"Let's do the usual, Al." Edward said after Al was fixed.
"The usual?" Armstrong asked.
"Our teacher told us that to train your spirit—." Edward started.
"You have to first train your body." Esmè finished.
"Yeah. How'd you know?" Al asked.
"I knew someone who always said that, and then we'd spar." Esmè said.
"That's what we do, but I've never beaten him." Edward knocked on Al's chest.
"Then I shall participate!" Armstrong said.
The two stood apart from each other in the grass and the on Edward's move they started to fight. Edward tried to get a good hit on his brother but his attempts were futile. Eventually his brother knocked him away and then Armstrong stepped in. After a bit he was able to throw Al on the ground.
Now the boys worked together to fight him. Al ran forwards and occupied his hands and Edwards came from under kicking his knee from under him. With that they were able to flip him over and onto the ground. The two cheered happily before Edward looked over too Esmè.
"Your turn." Edward grinned.
"Bring it shortstack." Esmè taunted, surprisingly confident.
He ran towards her and she ducked out of the way before turning on her right foot, her auto-mail, and kicking him in his back. He rolled across the ground before getting up and running at her, he threw a fist at her and she dodged and went to punch him with her left arm but he caught her hand and his eyes widened as he noticed something, she was still wearing her gloves and sleeved shirt.
He opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off as she tackled him to the ground. They rolled around on the ground taking turns with who was on top (that sounds dirty hehe). Eventually Esmè was pinned and gave up with a sigh she was exhausted.
"Alright you won." Esmè laughed.
"Yeah!" He cheered jumping up.
The boys had left already and Esmè sat at the table while Winry looked at the window. Winry looked broken as she stared. She really loved the boys and Esmè could see why, they were great people. With a sigh Esmè stood.
"Esmè?" Winry asked.
"Hmm?"
"Who's Luna?" Esmè stiffened upon hearing the name. "The name was carved into the watch like something I saw in Ed's." Winry didn't look away from the window.
"S-she was th-the mechanic I told you about." Esmè said tears forming in her eyes.
"Did you love her?"
It was a second before Esmè answered. "Yes."
"When we stayed out too late, mom would blink a lamp on from the second floor, so we would see it and run back home, remember " Al said.
"Oh yeah." Edward said.
"You know, they love you." Esmè made her presence known. "That makes this your home." She was looking at the ground but you could tell she was crying.
"Es—."Edward started.
"Wherever there are people who love you and care; that is home! Whether you see it or not! And right here in Rockbell, Winry and Pinako love you and care for you, so just accept it. You never know they may not be there in the long run." Esmè finished quietly.
"Okay." Edward said.
Esmè's head snapped up to meet his eyes and she saw he meant it. She smiled and looked back down at the ground. They all made their way back to the house and on the way there Al pointed out a blinking light. Suddenly the boys started racing towards the house as Esmè and Armstrong stayed behind.
"Come on!" Edward stopped and waved at them.
Esmè blinked and stood there in her spot until Armstrong pushed her forwards. She smiled and ran after the boys.
The next morning they were all packed and ready to leave. The group thanked the two mechanics for their help and started down the road.
"You come back and eat with us once in a while." Pinako called.
"Yeah, Eventually." Edward called back.
"You too, Esmè!" Winry yelled.
Esmè gasped and turned to see them waving, she nodded with a big smile. They all made their way to the train station. The brother's bickered a bit and Edward ran from Conner. But other than that it was quiet. Esmè would've been lying if she were to say she wasn't going to miss them.
"What are you going to do now?" Al asked while Armstrong bought tickets.
"Uh, i-I don't know actually. I've kind of been floating from town to town with Conner." Esmè tucked her bangs back behind her ear.
"Why not stick with us for a while then?" Al offered.
"R-really?" Her eyes wide.
The boy simply nodded. She looked back and forth at the two and then Armstrong who walked up behind them and held up four tickets. She smiled and nodded while Conner jumped up and barked happily.