Hey everyone! I decided that I would read the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, and so far, I'm loving it. So I decided that I would make a story for it, and this does include my OC, Lauren or Laura, for short. Anyways, let's go, and I hope that I'll do good for my first story.
"Hey, Lauren!" My sister keeps whispering. "Mph.." I turned around and didn't bother to open my eyes. "Lauren..." She growled, and I started to wake up groggily. "What?" I yawned. "It's almost morning, and you spent half of your time practicing Alchemy, remember?" I pouted and thought. "Oh yeah..I tried pulling a all nighter. Never again." I shuddered. "Get up, you. It's time to work." She tied her apron and walked out of the room.
My name is Lauren Schatz, or Laura for short as my sister calls me. Her name is Amelia, and she runs a small, but successful food shop 3 blocks across town. I work there too, and I help out with the food items and animals. I also practice Alchemy, Nuclear Alchemy, to be specific. I really want to be a State Alchemist when I grow up, and I know my skills are a bit rusty, but I'm trying! Okay, I'll just spill it: I need more chemistry books.
I rose out of bed and check my appearance. Yep. Same appearance as always. Curly brown hair, blue eyes, and warm brown skin. Also, I was a bit small for a 12 year old, but 4'12 isn't that small, right? I need to check on that..
After putting on some clothes, which was a long-sleeved white shirt with a light blue skirt and some boots, I ran downstairs and saw what Amelia wouldn't cook in a million years: pastries. I started to grab one from the tray until Amelia slapped my hand. I retracted it back and winced. "What was that for?!" I whined. "Those are for the customers, not for your own enjoyment, Lauren." I rolled my eyes and sat down at the table. She set a plate of sausage and waffles down for me.
"Besides, those can spoil your appetite. You know how you get when you eat sweets." She continued. "So, how's Alchemy going?" She asked, covering some wrap over the sweets. "I need some more chemistry books, 'melia." I stated. "Hmm. Well, when I'm down on my quick shift, we can stop by the library and get some, kay?" I nodded. A knock sounded on our door, and Amelia swallowed her bacon and wiped her hands to open the door.
And she proceeded to open the door, and Samantha, one of Amelia's friends and fellow helpers walked in. "Hello Lauren!" She waved giddily at me, and I waved back. "I packaged the meat and leaves, what else do you want?" Samantha asked while grabbing her apron of the rack. "I already baked some stuff, and I'm getting the pastries ready." Samantha looks over the pastries and gives me a look. "Amelia..one of em's missing." I'm dead. My mouth was full of one, and Amelia glared at me.
"If you don't get that pastry out of your mouth, I will slap your back so hard you will go blind and deaf at the same time." She put lots of emphasis on time. I coughed up the pastry and sighed. She backhanded me and I frowned. "Bet you won't be doing that again now will you?" I nodded.
Oh well, I have better things to focus on than that beautiful delicious sugary cream filled treat-oh, who am I kidding, it was good while it lasted.
-Outside-
I put on my apron and walked outside. I saw Amelia and waved at her. She glanced over at me and smiled. "Hey Lauren." She smiled and put down one of her boxes. "You're finished? That quick?" I asked and she nodded. "You?" I nodded as well. "Hey, the earlier, the faster." She reminded me. Amelia always pressed that quote down on me really hard, since it was true.
"Now, how about those books?" She leaned on the boxes. "We can get them?" She nodded. "Okay." Amelia grabbed her purse and headed out of the store.
-Library-
"Briar!" I softly called to the librarian, and she turned around. "Ah, Lauren and Amelia. Let me guess, Alchemy, right?" She asks and I laugh. "Yeah." She pointed toward the section and I thanked her.
Amelia looked around and suddenly remembered something. "The store! Ugh, Samantha!" She complained while her cowlick stuck up straight. "Hey, sis? Your cowlick is sticking up." She tried to smooth it back down but it just popped back up. "Nevermind! I'll be at the store. And don't talk to strangers, okay?" I rolled my eyes at the last one. "Amelia, I'm not-" Too late. The door shut in my face, and I just look at Briar. "Don't worry, Laura, I'll watch over you."
"Thanks Briar. You're the best." She smiles and pats my head. I stare at the 3 books in my arms and look around. That's it.
"Well, I'm done here, Briar. You want anything from the shop?" She shook her head. "I'm fine, but thanks for asking."
"Okay. I'll be back soon for the due date." "Good. And make sure to practice more! You'll only get better that way!"
"I will!" I called and walked out of the door.
-Store-
Amelia started to command more orders around the shop, and pointed to her workers. "Samantha! Make sure that syrup is not lumpy!" She yelled. "Hey, Lauren, go outside. You're off duty." I looked up from my chemistry book and walked outside from the back.
"Okay." I took off my apron and hung it on the rack, walked out, and shut the door.
I had the book tucked firmly under my arm and saw a grassy spot next to the shop. "Perfect." I whispered while sitting down.
I started to sit down and read it. "Hmm..Nuclear Alchemy.." I read that chapter 12 times over, and I still need to read it.
"Hey, can I sit here for a second?" I look up and see a short blonde man with golden eyes.
"Sure.." I scoot over and he sits down, while opening a book. I look at the title, and it has a transmutation circle on the cover.
"You study Alchemy too?" I ask quietly. He laughs and shakes his head. "No. I am a Alchemist." My eyes widen and I look down.
"How about you? You seem as if you're one too." "Nah. I'm working on it. I can't grasp the equivalent part though..." He asks can he see the book and I nod.
"Here." He points to the section that is titled 'Equivalent Exchange' and I look at it. "You see, you can't gain anything without sacrificing something. It can't work the way in which you gain something and it's done. See?" I look at the page to see a person and another person.
"I don't get it." I say. "Okay. Look at it this way; if you want to be on top, what would you have to do?" He asks me.
"I would have to be on the bottom and work my way up, right?"
"Exactly. In order to keep things in balance, you'd have to give up something in order to get it." I got it now. "Thank you, Mr..."
"Just Edward or Ed is fine." He smiles. "Well thanks very much, Ed. I really appreciate it." I look at my pocket and I see a rice cake that was still good.
"Oh and um, here." I hand him the cake and he takes it. "Thanks." And he walks away.
-Lauren and Amelia's house-
"Kay, Laura. Time for bed." Amelia pulled on her braids and walked out of the room. I closed my book and pull on my nightgown as well, taking my laurel leaf out of my hair. Climbing into bed, I turned the light off and I grasp the pillow softly.
"In order to keep things in balance, give up what you have to get it.." I whisper before closing my eyes.
Okay! I'm done with the first chapter, which I am praying is good. Okay, so about Lauren's life. She is black (I mean seriously I've seen no black OC's whatsoever. Am I the only one? T.T), she is pretty defiant when it comes to following her sister's orders, and she is still working on her alchemy because she can't even get the Equivalent Exchange part right. She is 12 years old.
Amelia actually stays to her namesake, since it means hard worker. She is pretty hard on Lauren but still cares for her, and is hard(er) on the other workers in the store. She approves of Lauren's alchemy, as long as she doesn't blow anything up(but that's going to happen anyway). She is 15 years old.
So anyways, I hope you guys like the chapter and can give me some positive feedback! :)
