WELL THEN

This took a lot longer than i initially promised. Back over on the old Truths Tool, i had said a month max, however it has been a lot longer than that. Reasons? Stress, laziness as well as i've done a complete overhaul to her backstory so it took a LOT of planning.

So lets start 2019 great with picking these up. Please be patient, we will hit the Anime/Manga in a few chapters time, but please give this a try!

The official Rewrite to Truths Tool Begins (I dont own FMA)

Small feet stumbled through the alleyway, eyes darting around in panic. Fear gripping mind and body. Turning a corner it stumbled, tripping, falling. A large man blocked the way out.

He frowned, looking the thing over. It was small and hunched over. It had long golden blonde hair, that had collected dirt from running or perhaps something else. Its golden eyes widened spotting the man. He was now able to see 'it' was a young girl in rags and emaciated. Stepping forward he kneeled down, he too looked young with tied back silver- white hair and red eyes narrowing in concern. She cowered back, her eyes looking around in panic, but she paused, back hitting a wall. She watched the man, preparing to be attacked.

The man held out his hand. She studied him. He looked kind with a soft face. Cautiously she took his large hand, that engulfed hers. It was warm. He smiled pulling her close, her body shivered from the cool air, ragged clothes not offering the slightest protection. The warmth from the stranger made her feel woozy and… content. She let out a soft sigh before promptly finally giving in to exhaustion, passing out instantly.

Hours later she woke, laying on under soft fabric. She blinked, frowning in confusion, before jolting up. Looking around she found stone walls. Wood. Fabric. Paper. Fire. The man! He stood from his seat at the other side of the room, he gave her a small smile before three other people entered the room, with similar smiles once they spotted her.

A women hastily made her way to the girl with a kind smile and a kind look in her eyes. "Hello," She said whilst kneeling before she held a hand out. "my son found you earlier and brought you here." The girl eyed her hand suspiciously before taking it. "Can you tell me your name sweetie? Where you are from?"

The girl didn't answer, eyes dropping to the floor. She looked around again, noticing how everyone in the room shared the same characteristics; dark skin, white hair and red eyes. "My name is Crystal." She whispered. "I-I don't remember anything."

That was the beginning.

Crystal soon learnt the names of the family that chose to take her in, offering such kindness to a lost young girl. Her new parents were jovial people with such big hearts for their now three children. Her adoptive brothers? Well the youngest of the two, was the one who found her; Isaiah, and his older brother Oscar had taken a huge liking to the new addition. It was a strange having no memories of her life before, or how she had come to be so emaciated and ill, she didn't even know how old she was, and could only guess due to her small stature. Crystal had not known much what a family was, it was like she was a blank state, a newborn even. Her curiosity definitely shone through. After months she finally accepted the place as her home and new family as hers with confidence. Unfortunately however, that notion was not shared by the rest of the Ishvalan community around them.

Crystal had learnt that she lived in a region of southeastern Amestris called Ishval, where the Ishvalans were ruled over by the country's military forces. Oscar had taught her that Ishval was once its own country, but was absorbed by Amestris. Tension was already high, so when a lost child is found with resemblance to an Amestrian child, it put others on edge. Crystal, though too innocent to the world to understand why, faced many harsh reactions. But given her confusion it never bothered her, appreciating her new family for the life they began to provide for her. How could she complain, for she had been given a loving family and a place to call home.

She spent time with her brothers and learnt their personalities and their interests. Oscar had the mind of a scholar, always wanting to learn and making new discoveries. He was carefree and kind, always taking time out his day to assist Crystal with her reading. Unlike his brother Isaiah had a more muscular build, Crystal was sure he'd end up as a temple warrior monk similar to their father. Crystal cherished these days with her new family, grateful for her luck to be found by them.

Then the war came

It became a time of fear and uncertainty as an uprising was slowly beginning to form after the murder of an Ishvalan child reached all corners. There was an uproar of anger and call to arms to fight back against the Amestrian's and their control. As time passed it became apparent it would not be something small. Isaiah was one of those outraged, and quickly made his joint monk training as well as to be a warrior to help the efforts in the war; it worried Crystal greatly.

At first things moved slowly, reports of skirmishes in the first few years, almost like both sides were gearing up for something huge. During this time, Crystal began to help Oscar with his scholarly work, research into alchemy and alkahestry. She learnt that it was taboo under the in the Ishvalan religion,yet with the possibility of ending the war and saving countless lives, it motivated them greatly. At first she was confused how it was such a bad thing, but after Isaiah explained their religion and the powers of alchemy in more depth, she understood much more and why it was taboo in Ishval. Curiosity still tugged at the young girl's heart, however.

Isaiah had started to fight for his country, returning alive but always with some sort of injury; leading to a smack round the back of his head from their mother. Although, even with their efforts skirmishes grew closer to their home, more were killed or injured and things were becoming much more horrific.

Crystal's brothers said that the war would not last forever, and she believed this with absolute conviction that her people- no that the nation of Ishaval would come out on top.

One could only dream.

Seven years into the war, with a good cause and strong hearts the Ishvalan people fought with everything they had, not once backing down. Then the Amestrians threw a curveball. State Alchemists turned the tides of warfare, turning the skirmishes into exterminations of the Ishvalan warriors, and to a complete wipeout of the Ishvalan people. No woman or child would be spared.

On one of the quieter days, Crystal deemed it safe to venture back out into the middle of the village to pick up some readings from others around her age, and when she returned she was met with a grinning Oscar, a small box in hand. Without a word he placed it in her already full hands, making Isaiah who was standing beside him laugh.

Crystal gave them both a suspicious look, before opening said box with a small smile, which soon turned into a grin. Inside was a small silver locket and chain, with words engraved in Ishvalan on the top, taking it out she opened it, her smile growing more. Inside was a very small, black and white picture of their family, it was taken on her fifth anniversary of her adoption.

Looking up at the two she gasped, as they now held a similar silver bracelet on eat of their wrists, sharing a large grin. "So you can always find us, little sister." Isaiah had said with soft eyes and face splitting grin.

They embraced and cried. The world was uncertain but the one thing that would forever remain would be the love they shared. Even with the horrors surrounding them daily, love and laughter can still be found within the heart.

Crystal had always spent more time with the eldest brother, finding the concept of alchemy more and more intriguing and also due the fact that he was normally at home. Her interest came to the point of secret researching herself, the ideals and theories just seemed to click for her, just seemed like child's play. With her knowledge and curiosity taking up more her time, things around them grew worse. A food shortage had begun in many of the smaller villages, meaning food for a family the size of their own, was difficult to come by. Crystal did not mind going without food for a few days when it came to it. As long as her parents and brothers were healthy it suited her just fine.

Isaiah had started staying away for longer, causing her mother to stress constantly about his state and health, Crystal just joined her in prayer for him and their country. Praying that the war would end soon.

More time had past and the front was eventually upon them. Being so far east it meant they were one of the final villages; this fact caused nausea and fear to swell in Crystals stomach. How was the rest of the Ishval fairing? Why was the front so close? Where was their God Ishval? Is this his plan?

Tucking her golden hair under her hood she ran home after retrieving some water; keeping her presence unknown had become paramount. Some in the village had chosen to stand by her adoptive family in keeping her safe, scared that the Amestrians would either take her away, claiming they kidnapped her, or kill her and her family. She turned a corner and saw her mother and father huddling in a close group.

Frowning, she hurried. An explosion somewhere in the village. Homes were engulfed by fire. Crystal tripped but was soon held in her mother's arms. Everything around them was now rubble and, causing her to shake in fear. Looking around frantically Crystal tried to spot her brothers, one of whom she knew must have been fighting the Amestrain forces which were advancing on them from the west. Crying out in joy their mother found Isaiah, smiling happily as he joined the group, now with other members of the community with them too. A few moments later Oscar also joined them, them too with a thankful smile on his face seeing his family to be okay.

Crystal gripped her mother's hand in fear as there was quick and frantic talks to flee to the east in hopes to escape the savage forces from the west, yet after revealing a state alchemist was leading the attack upon them there were more frantic looks from others, trying to desperately find a way to escape and live.

After a suggestion Crystal stepped out behind her mother, face angry. "No! We shouldn't split up! We are all a family and we should stay together!" She cried, her face slightly red from frustration and fear. Her mother held Crystal's hand tight, no one even answered her cries as more plans were discussed.

Beside her she saw as Oscar shoved a book into Isaiah's hands, eventually hiding it in his robe. She curiously bit her lip and opened her mouth to ask what was occurring between her two brothers, yet stopped as a breathless cry emitted from her mother beside her.

Turning Crystal faced the eyes of the devil. His eyes were filled with malice piercing the small group with intimidation and arrogance. The amestrian smirked at them, opening his long and thin arms wide as if he were to hug someone. His long black hair was tied from his face spare from two parts on the crown of his head, and his blue trousers and white shirt ruffling in the wind on top of the building that he stood upon; adjacent to them. Looking over them Crystal felt like pray, her body trembling yet she refused to seem scared, but her body betrayed her.

The devil's eyes stopped for a moment on her, his head tilting in curiosity, possibly due to her Amestrian appearance. She felt Isaiah push her and the group behind him, his eyes wide. Cries that the devil was a state alchemist sent shivers down Crystal's spine as she looked at the intricate transmutation circles on his hands.

In those short few moments everything seemed almost silent yet so loud; she could tell someone was crying, someone was begging and someone was praying. She felt like she was floating as her brothers looked back at her and their parents in panic and the red alchemic lightning burst from the devil. It rippled down the building he stood on, making large explosive craters, growing closer and closer to the huddling group.

She heard someone scream, and felt more weight push as her, but again things seemed so silent in her mind as Crystal watched the beautiful lighting arc towards her. It seemed beautiful, godly and so powerful, yet the light grew too much. She cringed in pain, feeling the pressure build and then there was only pain.

The pain was intense, then all she could hear was white noise, all she could touch was the cold broken ground beneath her. She tasted something warm and copper like, spitting it away as she tried to move yet, all she could see was black.

The was more sound beside her, making the young girl attempt to move away in a panic, thinking the insane man had returned. But a soft hand was what she now felt on her cheek, recognising the soft hands she tried to smile, yet coughed again, still tasting the copper.

"Crystal.." Now she could hear clearly. The voice sounded pained and broken; but it sounded like her brother. "Crystal please be alive." Her brother begged, before seeming to burst into silent ears as Crystal tried to take more breaths. But she only coughed on that taste again.

"Crystal." The voice she now recognised as Oscar pleaded, holding her cheek her seemed to be checking her over, but she couldn't see. "Mother and Father…" He whispered, his voice sounding broken again. Oscar seemed to pause, it concerned Crystal greatly, why couldn't she see?! And why was her brother breathing so heavily, seeming so broken. "Isaiah is beside you he..he's lost his arm." His voice broke again, causing the young girl to flinch at the sound, her hearing seeming so sensitive. "I love you...i love you so much."

Then all she could see was blue.

When Crystal next woke up all she could feel was panic and a heavy bandage around her face, hiding the light from her. Groaning she tried to move, to speak or anything, yet the grogginess caused the inability to cause more panic and confusion. That was till a woman beside her seemed to take notice of her newly awakened state. Her voice sounded like it was underwater, but she grabbed the gist of it. Crystal had been rescued and taken to a small hospital set up my two Amestrian Doctors, whom she couldn't see yet hear their kind voices.

The room sounded busy, others crying around her and others trying to heal yet she still couldn't see. "Miss.." Her voice was quiet, trying to grab the attention of the woman doctor. "Please..i want to see..i need to see if my family are here.." She begged, clenching her fists. After more convincing the woman finally agreed to remove the bandage for a small amount of time, still conscious that she needed to heal. From what Crystal was unsure.

The light brought a sense of hope as her eyes slowly opened, maybe things were not as bad as they seemed. She slowly blinked, hissing in pain slightly as the light was almost too much, yet after a few seconds she felt better.

The woman doctor was in front of her, her blue eyes wide. "Thank god..can you see Sweetie?" She asked, leaning over to inspect Crystal. After receiving a nod she continued to clean around her eyes. "I am unsure what happened, but you received extensive damage to your eyes.." Passing the girl a mirror she gave her a smile before having to rush to another patient.

With trembling hands Crystal rose the mirror, freezing as she gazed into the cracked surface. Along her face where her once golden eyes were now lay red ones, with jagged scarring around it. The large one lay from almost ear to ear straight across, with other smaller ones, almost like tree branches. It caused her to let out another panicked breath, touching her face. "Wh..why are my eyes... " Said eyes were wide and shiny with growing tears.

Before she could have a moment more there was a groan of pain from beside her, before a familiar voice called for their family. Turning with a gasp she finally felt the tears run down her face freely. Beside her lay Isaiah, his own face and part of his upper right arm was also wrapped in bandages.

As he started to come through there were panicked shouts to escape as the fighting grew closer to the small makeshift medical center, yet attention turned as Isaiah screamed, beginning to thrash in his bed. Crystal watched with horror, trying to call out to her brother in attempts to calm him, yet froze when she saw a familiar tattoo on his right arm. "Oscar...what did you do.." She whispered breathlessly, raising her own hand to her eyes. There were desperate calls for sedatives and help, but they were left unanswered as Isaiah began to stand.

Crystal moved, biting her lips to ignore her bloodied feet. "Brother stop moving!" She cried, placing her hands on his chest to push him. Looking up her eyes widened with slight fear and concern; his eyes were wide yet unfocused, but held a vast amount of hate. "Brother please stop! I'm here!"

Her cries were pushed away as he shoved the much smaller girl aside, muttering under his breath. "State alchemists...Amestrians...you will pay..." He reached to the side for a weapon, finding a cart of medical and surgical supplies. Others around him cowered in fear, only to watch in horror as he lunged for the Amestrian Doctors.

The cries of warning, fear and pain grew numb to Crystal as she knelt on the cold floor where she had fallen, her eyes wide and filled with tears as she watched the events. Unable to move, unable to speak, unable to help. It sickened her.

She didn't feel her brother drag her to her feet and away. She could barely feel the rock and dirt under her bare feet, everything felt so numb to her, so confusing and so big. She could barely move as her brother dragged her up the hill to the east. She couldn't feel anything when her brother let out an anguished scream at the sight of their destroyed village, the sky red and orange in the sunset; reminding her of the blood that was spilled.

She fell to her knees, gripping her head which was shaking back and forth frantically. "They can't be...everyone…" She whimpered, curling into a ball on the soft muddy ground. She then felt a hand roughly grab the back of her neck, and eyes peering into hers. Isaiah had pulled her head back with a harsh look, almost inspecting her.

"Mother...Father...Oscar…" Was all he mumbled, staring at his right arm and then Crystal's eyes. She tried to move away with a fearful whimper, keeping her eyes to the floor. "Vengeance…" He growled, releasing her and standing, looking at the bound book in his hands. "Even here in God's holy land i have nothing left to protect.." he was looking at the village again, beginning to pull at his bandages. "Vengeance…" He growled again.

Finding her strength Crystal stood shakily, gazing her teary eyes at the man she no longer recognised as her brother. "Isaiah...i..i'm still here.." The wind rustled her torn and burnt clothes, almost to soothe the girls emotions.

"No" He growled, his eyes returning to hers. "No you are not."

Crystal backed away as her brother said those words with hate and anger in his eyes; his body hunched over hers in a threatening way, his breathing heavy. "But...I am your sister..how can I not be with you?"

His eyes softened, looking away from the cowering girl. Both their attentions turned to the small bound book in his hands, filled with paper. "Brother left me with this...It's his research.." He then looked to his now tattooed and with hate. "Alchemy…" he growled.

Crystal took a daring step forward, her eyes filled with tears. They fell down he dirtied face in silence, causing her skin to ache and eyes to sting. "I have seen it...i know some contents..but perhaps..we should keep it safe?"

Her meek voice startled her brother who turned to look at her with sad eyes. He said nothing has he slipped it into his burnt clothing to keep it safe. "Come." He ordered harshly. "We must go."

Shaking her head she pulled away from Isaiah as he went to take her hand. "Brother.." Her voice rose to speak to him with confidence. "I don't want to flee….i don't want to live in hate...Alchemy...it can be good. It can help people! The Amestrian government caused this..perhaps the evil is within them but not the science they wield!" Tears fell more quickly as she preached, holding a hand to her heart and clutching at the skin. "It is something for that reason i want to know!" She cried, clenching her eyes shut.

Her brother said nothing, other than look down on her with broken eyes, still half covered in bandages. He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Crystal where she was.

And alone she became.