~Born to a mother who died in a tragic accident and father she wish she hadn't, Reyna Isabelle Kyser had never known true happiness. The only salvation that she found was with her best friend, Keto, an alchemy prodigy. He teaches Reyna, who's talents eventually increase to match his. But when Keto is killed, to what lengths shall go to resurrect everyone she loves?~

A/N: Okay, thank you, whoever decides to read this! I've this in my head for a little while now, and finally decided to put it down on FanFiction. Enjoy, and please review! :)

Reyna's POV

Reyna is 10, Keto is 12, and Edward (although he is not present in the story yet) is 13.

"REMEMBER, when you put your hands together-" Keto did so to demonstrate. "-your body is representing the alchemetic pentagon. You are the circle, and concentrating, you should be able to perform the alchemy without going through the hassle of drawing a pentagon."

I nodded, taking everything he said and storing it in my brain so I wouldn't forget.

"Now, did you practice what I showed you?"

I nodded again, and clapped my hands together, concentrating as hard as I could. Soon, there was a flash of light, and a flawless little toy horse appeared on the ground in front of me.

"That's incredible!" Keto squatted down and examined it. His green eyes flashed with excitement. "You got the hang of it so fast! It took me weeks to figure it out!"

There was an underlining of jealousy in his voice, and I quickly said, "Well, you had to learn it all by yourself. I'm lucky to have a great teacher."

He grinned. "Thanks, Reyna."

And everything was right in the world again.

One Year Later. Reyna is 11. Keto is 13, and Edward is 14 (although the last is still not present yet).

I cowered, shrinking down as far as I could, wishing I could turn invisible. And although I knew- and dreaded- what was going to happen next, I couldn't stop myself from shaking.

The closet door opened, and light flooded the tiny space, throwing my figure into relief. I buried my face into my arms, shielding it.

"You little freak!" I felt a sharp stab of pain at my back. "So this is where you've been hiding all this time! What's the matter? Scared?"

I shrieked, and tried to dark away. He caught me- barely- by the back of my collar. I choked and spluttered, both of my hands flying to my throat.

"Where are you going? Trying to get away, maybe, from your father?"

Father? Father? The word was terrible, biting, and worst of all, true.

"Going to escape to see your little friend? That little freak?"

Keto? Did he just call Keto a freak?

But I couldn't muster the courage, not even to defend my own friend. I cried, the shame of cowardice overpowering me, and the tears trickled down my cheeks in twin streams. Eventually I just stopped an endured the blows. And all the time, still conscious. Still screaming.

"Reyna!"

Was I hearing things? Was I dying?

"Reyna!"

No, I knew that voice…

"Reyna!"

Struggling, I opened my eyes. Keto was in front of me, a stream of blood dripping into his eye. A nasty gash marred his face right above his eyebrow.

"Keto…" I managed to gasp out. Guilt pricked at my insides. I couldn't even talk to defend my friend from my father's harsh words, and here he was, charging into a fight to save me. I didn't deserve him as a friend.

"Let's go!" He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me up, but I was frozen in fear. I had seen what was behind his shoulder. I screamed.

Keto looked behind him, and then whirled around, but not running, not abandoning me, but spreading his arms, eyes on his imminent death.

Protecting me.

"Keto!" My own scream shattered the air, and it was probably one of the last sounds he ever heard. His body collapsed, an knife in his stomach, but he was still alive, still gasping for air.

That's what broke me. The innocent, scared, cowardly girl was gone, personality cast off like an old cloak. All that was left was the raging spirit, roaring for vengeance. It wanted to avenge its friend.

"You killed him!" I screamed. That's all I could say. "You killed him, you killed him, you killed him!"

I knelt to the ground and placed my hands in Keto's blood, feeling the power surge through my limbs. Cool reason cut through the angry storm. Iron. Blood had iron.

And then there was a knife in my hand, and I was lunging towards my father, murder in my heart. He was taken aback, his senses dulled by a little spark of fear. What had happened to the girl he had beaten? Where did this fighter come from?

In retrospect, I don't remember it at all. All I remembered was the blood on my hands.

After stabbing my father (I shed next to no tears about that), I rushed to the side of my friend. Keto was still alive. He was still alive.

But not for long.

He clutched my hand. "Are… you alright?" He whispered.

I found that the room was growing blurry. Then I realized that it was only tears, only tears.

"Yes." I said softly. He closed his eyes, smiling.

"I'm glad. Do something for me?"

"Anything." I choked out.

"Travel the world. Do you remember everything I taught you?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

"Use it. Become a state alchemist, awe the world. Push alchemy past its borders. Make new discoveries. Help it to expand! Go farther than anyone has ever gone. Promise me."

"I promise. I swear on the life that I currently live because of you."

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