Prologue
"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." –Henry David Thoreau
(Edward's POV)
Liore. Just the thought of it pisses me off. It was just another dead end, a waste of breath and energy. I still wonder though how the so-called-priest Cornello got a hold of a fake Philosopher's Stone and how the town will recover after finding out he was a fraud all along. What I wondered the most is if Rose took my advice to stand on her own. My thoughts then turn on what Al and I should do next. Will the Colonel have another lead for us when we get back? Or will Al and I be spending endless nights at the library looking for a way to get our bodies back until there is another lead? I was so deep in thought that I didn't even noticed that the train stopped until my younger brother shook me back into reality. "Brother, it seems we're here." His metallic young voice announced as I looked out the window in confusion.
"Already? It usually takes a lot longer to get to Eastern Command." I commented while pulling out my state watch to check the time. "This can't be right. According to my watch we've been on this train little over an hour. It takes at least three to four hours to get to East City from Liore." Looking out the window again, I managed to see the train station sign as people got off while others boarded.
"It seems we've made a pit stop Al. We're in New Optain."
"Really?"
"Yeah look for yourself." I said pointing out the window as Al leaned down to look. "Excuse me but is anyone sitting here?" A soft voice asked hesitantly. "No m'am but you can." Al said as the both of us continued to look out the window, not even bothering to look at the young lady joining us. "I wonder why they decorated the streets." I wondered out loud. "Oh the town is throwing a celebration of sorts. Too bad I couldn't stay any longer to participate. It looks awfully fun." The woman sighed. "But of course I have to head to East City." Now this caught my interest. "Really we're heading there..." I said before the sentence died on my lips when I glanced at her direction. Beside me, Al gasped when he saw the newcomer, for a good reason too. Right in front of us was a spitting image of a female version of Colonel Roy Mustang. The only differences was her eyes were a mocca brown that hid behind a pair of rectangular glasses and her hair was a few inches longer then Mustang's. Holy shit. Was all I could think of as I gawked at her.
I soon shook myself out of it when she started to laugh. "What's so funny?" I asked while narrowing my eyes at her. "Oh nothing!*laugh*You just look like a fish gasping for air like that. What, you never seen a girl before?" She giggled as my cheeks burned. "No! I've seen plenty of girls before! You just look like my asshole of a commanding officer!" I spat as her laughter died down before giving me a look of surprise. "Commanding officer? Kid aren't you a bit young to be in the army?" She asked as I scoffed. "Not when you're a genius when it comes to Alchemy." I replied as she shook her head in disbelief. "So I'm guessing that you're the so-called famous Fullmetal Alchemist? I've heard about you over my travels. Like you, I'm also a state alchemist. I became one quite recently." She said while pulling out her state watch. Now this really surprised me; this girl was dressed as civilian so I had no idea that she was also part of the military. She wore a pair of black slacks, a white button up shirt with a black vest, military-styled boots (how could I have missed that earlier I'll never know), a brown trench coat -that was a bit large on her- and a pair of white gloves. Honestly, because of the trench coat that was practically engulfing her I would have thought she was a guy if she hadn't spoke.
"So what's you title? What kind of alchemy do you specialize in? What-"
"Brother! I'm sorry miss he gets like this sometimes." Al explained as she smiled. "How about we introduce ourselves first?" She suggested as Al and I glanced at each other. "Sure. I'm Edward Elric and this is my younger brother, Alphonse Elric." I said as she eyed Al for a bit as if she were studying him but not for long. "I'm Nikita Lee, The Chaos Alchemist. It's a pleasure to meet you Fullmetal."