Roy of Alchemy

Alchemy, the science of structuring matter, with the break down and rebuild.

Equivalent exchange is the one and only law of alchemy…but when given an endless amount of material, this law is manipulated, even just slightly.

"Colonel Roy Mustang reporting sir." The dark haired man said saluting. Fuhrer Bradley turned around from the window he was previously facing to look at the officer in front of him.

"Very good Colonel, please take a sit." He smiled is normal sweet smile.

Roy sat down in the offered chair waiting for what the Fuhrer had called him in for.

There was a moment of silence before King Bradley spoke taking a sit in his own chair.

"You may be wondering why I called you in here solder," He began, Roy gave a quick yet settle nod. "It's about Nordic, located near Loir."

Roy perked up just slightly. "What about it sir?" he asked a little more out of concern. He knew there was problems over in that area but he didn't think it would become an issue but now was having second guesses.

"Well we don't know…but what we have is a reason to except foal play." The man continued.

"Foal play, in what way sir?" Roy asked a little more settle now and back to his normal emotionless state.

The Fuhrer entwined his fingers placing his chin on top of them. "We believe they have found a way to crate a new kind of philosopher stone."

Roy gave a confused look. "New kind?"

"Yes….as we both know the philosopher stone is red…but there has been reports of Nordic having a blue philosopher stone."

"Roy couldn't help but give a small chuckle. "Blue huh? If you ask me I'd say the thing is a great fake, a failed attempt at the real thing if you will."

Bradley didn't seem convinced, frowning a little. "Well what ever it is I want you to check it out."

Roy's previous smile left as shock took over. "Wait, your series?" Roy was taken aback a little but saluted quickly. "Understood sir."

Bradley smiled at him. "Very good solder, I have reservations all ready set up for you, you will be leaving first thing in the morning."

"And my men sir?" he asked as if to confirm they were going with him.

"There will be no need for you men to accompany you, they will only draw attention…no you will be going alone. Don't really think of this as a mission, but as a vacation Mustang. You will be labeled a traveler, so be sure your not wearing anything of military standers and pack as if you were going on a week long trip, thou its not sure just how long you will be there, I think a good mouth will give you plenty of time to investigate as well as relax."

Roy nodded his comply.

"See you early tomorrow, I'm sure there are a lot of things you want to get done before you head out, so you have the day off." He smiled and excused Roy from his office.

####

"Wow, a whole mouth huh? Sounds like fun." Maes Hughes chuckled lightly taking a sip of his drink. Roy had invited Maes to the bar with him and told him about his new 'mission'.

"Yeah, fun." Roy said in a sarcastic voice taking a shot of his scotch.

"Oh, it can't be that bad…just snoop around here and there a bit then go jump into the hotels pool and just enjoy being alone with no paper work to do." Hughes grinned at his friend.

Roy smiled a little. "You know…maybe I will do just that." He had been stressed lately; with all the work stacking up and Riza getting on his back about it. Not to mention Fullmetal.

"See this trip wont be that bad…and like you said I bet this new stone is just another failed attempt of the real one." Maes grinned putting on arm around his friend.

"Yep…I'm more then sure it is."

~3 weeks later~

Central was the same as ever but with the exception of Colonel Roy Mustangs group.

"Haovc! Get up!" Jean startled from his sleep almost fell back in his chair where he had been taking what was now called a Roy Mustang nap and looked up at a very angry Riza Hawkeye. "Honestly, I'd expect this from the Colonel, not you."

Jean gave a tired look and grinned. "Well some one has to take his place don't they?" he joked but quickly regretted it as a bullet shot past his head hitting the wall behind him.

Hawkeye had it aimed at him, "Now are you going to get to work or do I have to claim 'killed in action' report?"

Havoc's eyes were all ready wide from the first shot but some how had gotten wider. How could Mustang handle this and on top of it still fall a sleep every day!

"Yes ma'ma! Right away!" he cried pulling papers and singing them.

Riza sighed a little putting her gun away. "It's nice to at least know things are still even just a little normal around here with out the Colonel." She spoke knowing full well the others quietly agreed.

"Knock, knock." Came a voice Riza quickly identified as Edwards. He was standing in the door way off the office.

"Ed" Riza began "its nice you see you in back in town."

"Yeah me and Al here wanted to come by and say hi for a change, you know since I don't have to worry about bumping into that damn Colonel for a while." He grinned.

Riza laughed a little into a sigh, "I just don't think I will ever understand why you hate him so much."

Ed had told Riza and almost every other living thing on earth why he hated that smug so and so, but like her, he didn't understand why she felt so deeply for him.

"So you guys counting down the days when you see the old pain in the ass again?" he asked to anyone who wished to answer which was a surprise when Fury was the first to speak out.

"Yep! He comes home in exactly in four days." He smiled holding up a calendar all marked up with X's and a circle around the day indicated of Mustangs return.

"I bet you all will be happy to have him back in the office huh?" Al said looking at the calendar, a smile clear in his voice.

Edward laughed a little to himself; he hadn't actually thought one of them would go as far as to mark every day with out the Colonel.

Suddenly Ed heard someone clearing there voice behind him. Turning around Ed saw Hughes standing there happy as always.

"Hi there Ed, didn't expect to see you here since Mustangs gone."

"Yeah, well you know us, always full of surprises." He grinned.

Hughes smiled. "It's nice to see you two boys are still in good health." He commented.

Ed looked back over at Fury who by now was playing on his radio and glanced down at the marked day of the Colonels return, to think it would be a full fledge mouth the Colonel had been gone.

####

Where am I?

I can't see anything….every thing is white…I'm I blind?

I'm cold.

Is anyone there? I feel so….alone.

Please can someone hear me? I can't feel my body….I don't even think I have one any more.

Please…if anyone is out there…..help.

####

Ed laid in his bed of the normal temp house he always stayed at playing with his pocket watch, watching it twirl over his head while his flesh hand held it by its thin chain. Al sat in a chair across from his brother.

"You know Al, I hate to admit it, but things are just a little too quite for my taste around here with out that smug Mustang."

Al nodded in agreement. "Well like Fury said he'll be home in four days."

"Yeah…then I can put up with his gloating about how much fun he had on his little mission vacation." Ed said annoyed at the thought.

Suddenly the boys heard a loud cheering out side.

Al was the first to open the window of the two story apartment and looked down, Ed next to him.

"Look brother, Kimblee and his troops have returned."

Ed wrinkled his nose, "Ya, whatever…Kimblee only made that rake because the Fuhrer was willing to look past the unjust murders he caused. If you ask me he should have stayed in that hell hole they call jail." Ed spat. Even if he wasn't there when Kimblee committed his crimes, Hughes and Roy were and he had heard enough about him to give a good idea of the type of person he was. It was said he loved to blow things up…and never hesitated to use a human bean-even his own comrade, just to get his kicks.

Al was still watching out the window long after Ed left to go back on the bed.

Al then noticed something Kimblee had around his neck.

"Looks like the military is giving out new rewards these days brother." Al said. Ed out of question went back to the window and saw just what Al was talking about, there around Kimblee was the most beautiful blue and white necklace he had ever seen. He couldn't really tell what shape it was due to the distance, but he guessed it was a type of gem.

"I guess so. Odd." Ed then went back to his bed.

####

I hear cheering…but it's faint.

Anyone out there?

Pain….that's all I can feel, it's as if I'm being molded into something unreal.

Why can no one hear me….but I can hear as if there are people near by?

I'm cold.

I can't move, yet I feel I'm being moved.

I feel hands, a settle warmth, it feels welcoming….but then it cause more pain. Why?

Help me….I don't want to live like this…..

#####

The next day Hughes had been delivering his daily rounds and looking more into the Scar case when he saw Ed and Al.

"Hey boys, so you came back again today huh?" He grinned over joyed to see them.

"Yeah, well we wanted to talk to you about something." Ed began. Hughes a little shocked at the sudden request.

"Huh-ya sure Ed what do you want to know?"

Ed eyed his brother for a while before looking at Maes. "Has the military started giving out new rewards to solders lately?"

Hughes was a bit shocked yet confused. "Not that I'm aware of no, why?"

This time Al spoke. "We saw Kimblee and his troops return yesterday." Hughes gave a visible wince at the name, Kimblee was a heartless bomb maker, yes he had his good sides, but over all he was just crazy. "And we saw a necklace around his neck."

Ed then broke in, "And I've seen a lot of necklaces in my days, and that one was not normal-its beauty was just unreal. I was hopping we could get a closer look at it."

Hughes fixed his glasses before he spoke. "Seems to me Kimblee would be the only one with that necklace then-no one around here has seen such a thing…but I do know what you mean. I saw it my self."

Ed and Al perked up. "You don't think he got it from war do you?" Al asked.

Hughes lowered his head. "Last I heard he wasn't at war…he was on a mission…in Loir."

"Loir wouldn't have anything that nice." Ed spat.

Hughes nodded. "I'm sorry boys I wish I could help you out, but it looks like if you really want to know then you have to talk to the man himself."

Ed and Al thanked Maes and walked down the hall heading to Kimblee's office.

As soon as Ed found it he saw the door wide open, but instead of going right in he peeked hiding behind the doors wall. What he saw was what really caught his attention.

Kimblee was holding the necklace in his hands and cupped it with both then used basic alchemy and transmuted it into a knife, then a ring, then a piece of rope, and more, every one of them beautiful with unnaturally; the whole time a huge grin upon his face.

As Ed watched he soon got a glimpse of something he didn't expect.

Kimblee had transmuted it one last time into a dagger and placed it on his desk for a moment, but that moment was all Ed needed to see what he saw.

There on the hilt of the blade was a red out lined mark….

'Is that...Colonel Roy Mustangs' alchemy symbol?'