Chapter 1: The Cat's Laughter (Introduction)

12/10/2011 Note:

It's been quite a long time (well, for me, anyways.. =P) since I last touched this story. College has been an interesting experience for me so far and my life has been turned upside down more than a few times in the last year and a half. After my second laptop was smashed into about four chunks, I kinda lost my drive to write (since it had ALL of my stories/assignments/random quotes/everything else on it..), but I'm starting to get back into the mood for writing again.

I recently opened up my notebook from Senior Year (that had all of my assignments for my Creative Writing class) and found this story. It might take me a few weeks to get the feel of it again, but I will most definitely get another chapter posted before the end of this year. (/sarcasm) I'm going to have a blast with re-editing the chapters, since they seem to be having issues.. (/end sarcasm)

Thanks for reading!

~Kylunethil (well, previously Hopesfires.. I just like this new FanFic pen-name a bit more.)

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA (I wish that I did!) or any aspect of it (besides Seren Soulheart and any other OCs that I add).

Ed glared at Al, clenching and unclenching his fists. An empty drawer stood in front of them, conspicuously empty. The telltale red glow of the Philosopher's Stone was absent.

"Al," Ed inquired, "Weren't you here this morning?"

Al's eyes widened as a short "meow.." sounded from outside the door. Ed twitched and spun on his heels, deciding to go looking for the thief. He stooped down to lightly pet the white tabby on her head. Unknown to him, however, was that the cat had accidentally swallowed the Stone earlier.

As the day wore on, Ed and Al left for Central, Ed mumbling underneath his breath about "Mustang this, Mustang that.. Why can't he do his own work?" Al wisely said nothing to him. The tabby walked down to the kitchen and found a small bowl of milk next to the doorway. She purred happily as she began to lap it up. The cat paused a few moments later, her stomach grumbling. Stepping outside, she rolled over in the grass and playfully swatted at a sapphire-hued butterfly. The rustling of the ancient willows was soothing enough to put her into a heavy stupor. She drifted off to sleep in the luxuriant heat of Midsummer's Eve.

Darkness. She was in a void, endlessly falling, the dull flames of some hellish place dimensions beneath her flailing body. Eyes surrounded her as mouthless voices began to shriek and wail. A vast almond-shaped purple eye blinked open beneath her, startling the cat into a brief yowl before slipping through it.

A circular tunnel contorted and flowed around her as she sped towards some unknown destination. Hurtling around a corner, she flew through an ethereal white figure. It beckoned and the cat halted, bobbing like a cork in the middle of the ocean on a brisk morning.

The figure pursed its lips and stated, "I am Truth. Who are you?"

The cat shook her head, "Mrooow.. and I'll tell you, sir!"

Her mouth snapped shut and then flaccidly fell open. Truth held out its hand and she reached out to swat at it. Her emerald eyes opened wide in shock as her paw began to dissolve, the particles floating in the nothingness of the tunnel. She glared daggers at Truth as her essence was pulled free from her body. A lurid red glow marred the white perfection of the tunnel as the Philosopher's Stone was exposed. It throbbed with an errant pulse, bound to the cat's soul. Truth shook its head, growling.

"The alchemists of Amestris must be getting antsy indeed if they have to rely on this corrupting force!" Truth hovered in the air, its arm propping up its blocky chin. "No matter, it will take care of its own. I send you back to your world now, Seren Soulheart! You will be the guiding force in the years to come. Make use of your unique talents."

Truth stepped into the space before the Gate, studying it intently. Stretching an arm out, it snagged Seren's soul and bound it to a body, allowing her personality to shape it. It willed the Gate open and sent Seren along her way.

Just who is Seren? Expect her character to flesh out as my story progresses. (*Hint* She might know about the origins of the Stone..)