A/N - Okay... So this is my first story, one of the first that I actually plan on completing, and also the first that I have ever released to the public.

Please be gentle with me. Constructive critism is greatly appreciated.

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Explosions rang out on all sides and the screams were almost deafening. Cities crumbled and fell in a matter of minutes. And it was all because of them.

Roy Mustang paced his way through the city. Check for survivors. That was his orders. If he found any... he was to eliminate the 'problem.' As he walked he grimaced at the amount of bloodshed he had just caused by toppling this city.

Suddenly he stopped.

No...

But it was obvious. He could hear the cries, and almost at once realized they were the sobs of a small child. Backtracking through the rubble, he followed the horrible noise. It wasn't long before he located her. She looked so tiny, crushed and sobbing under all the rubble. Roy stood over her, almost stunned. It was a moment before he could even bring himself to move. Then he gathered himself together and started to push the heavy concrete off of her. She couldn't have been more than five or six. Her sobs stopped abruptly as the last of the rubble was pushed aside.

Opening her eyes she reached up with her good hand to shove aside a matted strand of midnight black hair. It was only then she seemed to notice her saviour. Roy almost jumped back as she reached up and latched on to his pant leg.

"Daddy? ...Daddy."

Roy was startled. Daddy? The last time she had said it, she had sounded so final, as if there was no doubt in the world. Then Roy noticed something. She wasn't Ishbalan.

I can save her.

It was final.

7 Years Later

"Tammy!"

It was a familiar sound in Eastern H.Q. Yet again he found himself shouting for the unruly girl who had insisted she be alongside her father as a State Alchemist. Sure, he had said, secretly knowing she would never get past the first exam. But now he wasn't so sure, as she practiced, and studied, and advanced further each day.

How could she ever survive the military? He admitted to himself that she definately a strong willed girl, sucessfully getting herself permission to take the State Alchemy exam right from the Fuhrer himself. She'd held herself proudly in front of the leader of their country. He had laughed and agreed. A good experiance he had said.

Roy Mustang had a major problem.

"Tammy!" he shouted again. Riza Hawkeye poked her head through the door.

"Sir, Tammy took a trip to Risembool to visit a friend remember? She's returning later this afternoon."

Roy gave a sigh at this reminder.

"Apparently she got in another street fight. I'm only now just finding out- Wait! Which train is she on?" he finished his sentence with a shout. Riza looked startled.

"She's on the 9:00 train. It just left," said Riza with obvious confusion in her voice.

Roy gave an exasperated sigh.

"Great. Just great."

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Tammy Mustang bounced onto the train.

"Going home, going home, it's time to leave, I'm going home!" she sang out as she searched for a seat. The compartment she was in was pretty full, and no one looked particularily friendly. Tammy glanced around, and then plopped herself down next to a blond haired boy.

Sweeping her wavy black hair back into a ponytail she smiled at the boy sitting next to her.

"Hi! You don't mind me sitting here do you?"

The blond boy had looked slight startled whe she threw herself down next to him, but now he looked indifferent.

"Knock yourself out."

She gave him a huge smile and held out a gloved hand.

"I'm Tammy!"

He hesitated a moment and then took her hand.

"Edward Elric. And this is my brother Alphonse."

Edward gave her a small smile, but did not release her hand.

"Auto-mail?" he inquired, letting go of her hand.

Tammy smiled and pulled up her sleeve and her pant leg, revealing the shiny auto-mail underneath.

"Just had it serviced. How could you tell?"

Edward smiled and pulled up his own sleeve.

"It helps when you know exactly how it feels. You're also walking a little off balance which tells me you just had it adjusted to fit your height. I could tell right away."

Tammy gave a grin.

"So what's the deal with your brother? Never really seen anyone with armor like his..."

Both Edward and Alphonse looked uncomfortable. Tammy caught onto their silence and took the hint.

"You know what? Nevermind."

Tammy was suddenly distracted by a small face peeking over the back of their seats. She giggled at the little girl's staring.

Hyperactive as she was, Tammy was getting tired. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

"Brother, am I scary?"

It was the first time Tammy heard him speak and she was pretty surprised. He sounded so young.

"Please. You're kindness in a can," stated Edward.

Tammy smiled at that statement. Then the little girl spoke again.

"Look Mom, he's strange."

Alphonse sounded hurt.

"Strange?"

"That's not nice, Marin. You shouldn't say things like that," her mother said in a very obvious hushed voice.

"But look at him! He must like armor a lot to wear it everywhere, even on the train! Do you think he gets hot?"

Marin's cute little voice was dripping with innocent curiousity. Tammy opened her eyes as Edward stood up and turned around.

"Nothing to see here folks! Nope, nothing out of the ordinary. Geez Al. I didn't know we had tickets to the normalcy express."

Tammy turned too, in time to see little Marin waving to Al. Sh grinned at the little girl's cute expression. Suddenly Marin spotted Ed's auto-mail. He pulled up his sleeve.

"Cooler than skin huh?"

Some time later Tammy was sitting beside Al dozing off on the boring train ride. Ed was sprawled across the seat in front of her.

"He's right, there is someone with him! And he is small!"

Tammy hadn't bothered to open her eyes during his exclamation, but now she was forced to, as Ed began flailing about in his seat. Tammy didn't even glance at their visitor as she struggled to restrain Ed.

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A RUNT SO TINY HE CAN ONLY BE SEEN WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS?!!"

"Calm down you lunatic! You're making a scene!" shouted Tammy.

The man backed away just as the men in each seat on either side of him stood up and pulled out guns. Tammy froze.

Uh-oh...

One of the men beat Falman over back of the head with his gun... Falman! She had finally recognized who had called Ed small.

But if he's here...

"No heroes today. Everybody shut up and get your hands over your heads. Or say hello to a bullet."

Tammy grimaced and put her hands up. Ed glanced back at her and Al and then did the same. It wasn't long before they had Falman bound on the floor, and were checking the passengers for weapons. Tammy stood stock still, seething with rage.

The men started towards them.

"Brother?" Alphonse whispered.

"Don't worry."

The men stopped in front of them.

"Helmet. Take it off."

Suddenly Ed let out a shout and pointed.

"Look!"

The men turned just long enough for Ed to plant a knee into one of their faces. Al took the opportunity to smash another one over the head.

The passengers were upset that they had not cooperated and been good little hostages. Suddenly Tammy lept foward just in time to grab one of the men's guns as he pointed it at Marin. It let off one shot before she got it.

Al lept foward, planting a foot into the man's back.

"Are you okay?" Ed asked, looking concerned.

The mother gave a scared nod. Marin was hiding. Ed reassured the girl and was right into action. Tammy was ready too but stopped. There was something they were forgetting.

"Hey! Over here!'

Falman inched his way into view. Tammy gasped and ran to untie him.

"Falman! Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little bump over the head. Nothing serious. But what are you doing on this train?"

Tammy smiled.

"I'm just coming back from Risembool. I was there visiting a friend and getting my auto-mail maitenenced."

Ed and Al ran up behind her.

"Risembool? That's our home town!" said Al. Tammy gave him a smile as Falman stretched and rubbed his wrists.

"Awesome! Do you know Winry?"

"Of course! She's our best friend. We've know each other for a very long time."

Tammy gave a laugh, but then was back to business.

"So what's going on? Something tells me this wasn't random."

Falman frowned.

"We've got passengers. The front car kind."

Tammy nodded.

"Alright. Then we better get to work," said Tammy. Ed turned away.

We can handle this Tammy. Go back to your seat."

Tammy looked indignant.

"I could say the same thing to you! Little boys should stay away from danger!"

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SMALL?!"

Tammy smirked as Al tryed desperately to restrain Ed.

"Bean sprout," she mumbled under her breath.

Despite his best efforts, Ed slipped from Al's grip. Tammy sidestepped as Ed rushed into a punch. He toppled over her foot, which was conviently in the way. He did a faceplant into the floor.

"Now, now Edward. You wouldn't hit a girl would you? Well then. You want to take another shot? Or do you want to help me? I'm sure the passengers would appreciate the latter," she said, as she lifted Ed up by the back of his coat.

"If you want to help I'll be on top of the train. Al can you handle things down here?"

Al nodded as Ed muttered darkly under his breath. It was very hard not to laugh at Ed at that point, but Al knew that would just anger him further so he kept his mouth shut. Tammy grinned.

"Come on shorty."

Ed exploded.

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Meanwhile, Roy was on the phone.

"If there's even one fatality-"

The phone clicked and then there was nothing. Bald had hung up.

"Sir, you know the General's feelings about negotiations," stated Riza.

"Who negotiating?"

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Tammy and Ed stood slowly, bracing against the wind. She could honestly say that it was her first time walking across the top of a train, but it was exciting all the same. The wind was fairly strong as Tammy took the lead.

They were partway up the train when her heart gave a jump.

OH SHIT.

"DUCK ED!!!"

She flattened herself against the train as a branch flew past. She looked back just in time to see Edward roll head over heels and then back off the train.

"EDWARD!!" she screamed. She crawled down the train, her heart doing weird jumps in her chest. What if he was dead?

Finally she reached the edge and what she saw was a huge relief.

"Oh Hughes, thank God you caught him. You okay Ed?"

Ed nodded and Hughes laughed.

"There's a certain art to train walking."

Tammy giggled, her heart finally calming somewhat.

"I didn't realize you were here. I'm glad. We could use the help."

"Happy to be of some use. Although your father was a little upset. He didn't realize that you would be coming back early." said Hughes with a smirk on his face. Tammy gave an exasperated sigh.

"He worries way too much. I can take care of myself."

Hughes laughed.

"Well then. What do you say we go teach some terrorists a lesson?"

Tammy gave an ethusiastic nod.

It wasn't long before they had most of the train under control. Tammy was in the process of tying up some unconcious hijackers when Ed's voice blared through the train.

Expect turbulence? What's that supposed to mean?

Gunshots rang through the air, and Tammy jumped up. Slowly sliding the compartement door open, she peeked out to see Ed wrestling with a man with a giant automail gun arm. Hughes was across the hall clutching his shoulder. Tammy was torn. Stay put, or chance it and help Hughes? She made up her mind fairly quickly. Whipping the door open, she dove past Ed.

Shit, shit, shit!

She fell into the other compartment, almost crashing into Hughes. He grabbed her arm to steady her.

"We are not telling your father what you just did. Are you trying to get shot?"

"I wouldn't have gotten shot. I'm too quick for that."

She didn't mention the fact that her heart was still beating so hard she thought she might have a heart attack. Ripping a piece off her pants she wrapped up his shoulder. She turned around just in time to see Ed crush the other guy's arm and Al finish him off.

Tammy cheered. Hughes smirked.

"Well what do you know."

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Roy stood tall and confident, having just apprehended Bald. It was a good moment for him, but it seemed to be missing something. He turned to Hawkeye slightly confused.

"Where's Tammy?"

Tammy rushed to exit the train.

I can't believe I almost forgot my bag!

She got to the door only to see her dad waiting for her.

"Dad!" she yelled, as she launched herself at her father in an unexpected tackle-hug. Roy looked slightly surprised and then smiled and returned the hug.

"Hey kiddo. You alright? I heard you had quite the interesting train ride."

Tammy grinned, looking for all the world like an excited five year old.

"Me and Edward beat up some hijackers! See? That's Edward. Edward, come say hi!"

He might have introduced himself at that point, maybe chatted a little, but instead he looked dumbfounded.

"That's your dad? Him?" he asked.

Tammy nodded.

"Yeah. So?"

Ed looked furious at that point. Tammy tuned out when he started yelling at Roy.

Jeesh. This is gonna be great to deal with. They already don't like each other.

"Miss Riza! Miss Riza! I had the most exciting train ride!" Tammy exclaimed, grinning widely. Riza gave her a small smile.

"You did well. But I think we're leaving now."

Tammy turned to see Roy walking away. She rushed foward to latch onto his arm and turned to wave to Ed and Al.

"Bye! I hope I see you two again soon!"

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A/N - So there you have it, the first chapter. Please be kind, this story started out mearly on a whim and then grew from there. This chapter is kinda like a trial chapter. If you guys don't like it, I won't post any more of it.

Review?