Heyy~ This is a co-op fan fic by Mitsuko and Shadow (: (: (: So don't mind if there are 2 writin' styles. This is an entirely different plot from FMA: brotherhood. So those who don't like plots to be changed, this is a warning Main characters added. Couple of parings too. Win x Ed. Al x Mitsuko. Shadow X Chika.

We'll appreciate any comments so we can improve yeah? :D happy reading and hope y'll like it!

-Mitsuko & Shadow

FMA does not belong to us, seriously...

In central of Amestris

Nobody's POV

"Alchemy is the science of understanding, decomposing, and reconstructing matter. However, it is not an all-powerful art. It is impossible to create something out of nothing. If one wishes to obtain something, something of equal value must be paid. This equivalent exchange is the basis of alchemy. Alchemists have a taboo, and it is human transmutation. It is that which no one must commit."

The day had been long, and he was exhausted.

Clad in just a black tee and blue jeans, without his favourite red jacket, or his favourite brown leather cap, Shadow Matsudaira doesn't seem to have any problem blending into the normal civilians as he walked along the streets of Amestris, bustling with activity. Surprisingly, the world capital of alchemy seems to have more civilians then alchemists. Just then, a conversation aroused his interest.

"Daddy, is alchemy dangerous?"

"Well, it depends, my dear daughter."

"Can I learn alchemy too?"

"No, you're too young to do that."

That's the conversation Dad had with Sozes. He then remembered the days he had with his family, back then when he was young, an ordinary kid, and most importantly, not an alchemist.

Flashback

"Hey, Mitsuko, that's a nice song!"

"Thanks Chika!"

Shadow looked over to his sister, Mitsuko, playing a new song that she had recently learned from their brother, Shihiro. He noticed Mitsuko's pure orange hair. Is it really like Mother's, like what Father said? He wondered. His mother has died during the childbirth of the twins. He then noticed Chika, a childhood friend of theirs. She came from a family of musicians, then having to settle down without her parents, as she still needs to have an education. She had hoped to be as great as her musician parents, who are currently traveling around the world, giving concerts everywhere they go.

Shadow then went back to practicing his bar tricks. His father came out from the kitchen, taking a break. Shadow peered around, no customers huh? His family owned a restaurant in the middle of Risembool, a place in the countryside. It may have a peaceful look to it, but it does have a lot of people living there. The first floor of their house was used for the restaurant, while the second floor which consists of a few rooms, where they sleep. The restaurant has a lot of customers during mealtimes. The food was nice; his father cooks only vegetables that he himself had grown in their garden. There was a relaxing ambience, which his brother creates with his piano skill, sometimes teaching Mitsuko along the way. The twins do the waiting, also in charge of the new bar counter, where people can watch Shadow throwing bottles, mixing cocktails for people to drink.

Shadow continued playing his tricks. Just when he was trying a trick that he's been trying to perfect for very long… His eyes were greeted by blackness. His hands had also lost grip on the bottle.

"Guess who I am."

"Stop playing already, Sozes. I'm been practicing this trick for so long. Then, you come to interrupt me!"

Sozes lifted her hands from Shadow's eyes. "Aw… How did you guess that it was me?"

Shadow lifted his hands, and counted from his fingers. "First, Mitsuko and Chika are at the piano. Second, Dad is taking a break beside me." With that, their father waved. "Third, Brother is upstairs. Fourth, Even if brother is down here, he would be coaching Mitsuko. And fifth, you're the only person who would do that other than me or Chika."

"Aw, Shadow, don't be angry. You can just try that trick again! I will be the first one to try that new blend of yours too!"

Shadow sighed, looking into his brown-haired sister's eyes. Sozes eyes are innocent-looking, unlike his bright and energetic ones or Mitsuko's fiery and cheerful ones. He just can't bear to scold his sister. "Oh right… You promise…"

"Yay! Hey Chika! Brother's concocting a new blend of cocktail!"

"Really? I hope it is edible then!"

Annoyed at Chika's remark, Shadow retorted, "It's gonna be edible, and Sozes will be the first one to try it!"

"I do pity you, Sozes. I hope you won't get poisoned!"

"Don't worry, she won't!" At that, both of them look away from each other, pouting and going back to what they are actually doing.

"My, my… Are you two quarrelling again?" Shadow turned to look at the staircase, where Shihiro stands, with a guitar. He had pure brown hair, just like Sozes, his eyes fiery yet innocent looking. He looks just like an older Shadow, only without the orange bangs on the fringe.

Mitsuko also noticed her brother holding onto his favourite guitar. She looked to Shadow, smirking. "Hooray! Guitar lessons!"

"I have my guitar here!"

"How about our guitars?"

"Here…" Shadow gazed over at his ever-so-quiet father, Wodahs taking out a few planks of wood and also drawing two circles with some weird design.

"Those are our guitars?" The pair gawked.

"Haha. Kind of. We're going to transmute two for both of you."

"What do you mean by transmute?"

"Watch and learn." Shihiro walked over to his father's side, then performing what he had termed as "transmutation".

That was the first time Shadow and the others saw transmutation taking place.

Flashback end

"Help!" Shadow's memories were cut off by a sudden scream for help. He looked around and saw a young man snatch a handbag from a middle-aged lady, then turning into a dark alley. Without thinking, Shadow just went into pursuit of the robber.

"What are you doing?"

"Pursuing you, of course."

"Don't you know who I am? I'm a notorious robber, known for killing those noble idiots who came in pursuit and tried to get back the stolen stuff. I'm an alchemist, whom people are now afraid of. Look behind, there's no one actually in pursuit other than you."

Not believing what the robber had said, Shadow looked behind. There's really nobody.

"Never be distracted in the face of an enemy. Say goodbye."

Shadow turned back, only to see the robber revealing a circle with weird designs. "Never be distracted in the face of an enemy."

Oh no. A transmutation circle. I've got tricked.

A bright flash illuminated the dark alley.

The people outside the alley noticed the bright flash of light.

"Another fell by the master robber?"

"I think so. He may be a new one out here, if he did not know about the master robber. Pity, he's only a kid too…"

"That master thief's unbelievable, he had so much bounty on him, yet no state alchemist is sent after him."

"Don't underestimate that kid who went after that master thief." A voice interrupted the conversation. Upon hearing the voice, everyone turned to the mysterious voice source.

"You are…"

Meanwhile, back in the alley, the 'master robber' was gloating over his victory. "Ha-ha! None of you could get me!"

"Are you sure about that?"

The master robber looked up, only to see Shadow, who had had jumped up to avoid the alchemy that was cast on him previously.

"There's no way a kid like you can dodge this level of alchemy!"

"Then don't underestimate this kid that you see! I'm not a kid anymore…" Shadow stated, taking out a glove from his pocket, and then putting it on his bare right hand.

"You're an alchemist!" The robber noticed a transmutation circle on the glove and started panicking, dropping the handbag, trying to run away.

"In face of normal civilians, you laugh and kill them mercilessly. Yet, when facing alchemists like us, you run away. You're such a disgrace to the name of 'Alchemists'." Shadow raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

A spark was ignited and an explosion ensued.

"You are Fuhrer King Bradley!" Some people managed to recognize the current king of Amestris, shocked to the point that the king had came out.

"Boom!" The loud explosion was heard.

"What was that?"

"I'm not sure, not even the master robber can do that!"

"Then what had caused this?"

Everybody expectantly turned to their king, who seemed to be the only one who knew the answer to their question. King Bradley smiled, and then shrugged, saying, "Another new alchemist, I presume."

Shadow glanced at the terrified robber, his hands trembling, whining like a puppy that have been kicked too many times to even stand up. His skin was bright red with his skin burned badly. Even the concrete floor was charred black with the powerful flames. Shadow had gone too far, the explosion had nearly killed him. Just a bit more and he would have burned the robber's life away. Fire alchemy sure is scary, just like what Master had said. I shall lay down a while, the robber won't be going anywhere anyway, and the state's coming. Shadow sat down and leaned on a wall. Looking at the extent of the fire alchemy could have reached, he began to remember how he badly he used to want to learn this deadly skill…

Flashback

"Never be distracted in the face of an enemy."

"Yes father!"

Shadow was busy practicing swordfights with his father. His father had not let them learn alchemy, afraid that they would become hardened, so Shadow instead asked for weaponry classes from his father. He himself learned swordfight, and also learned archery with Sozes. Surprisingly, in the lessons, his quiet father became a strict teacher, asking for only the best

"Somebody help me!" Shadow and Wodahs turned around to see a stranger snatching a necklace from one of their neighbours. Without thinking, Shadow ran over and chased the robber. "Stop it right there, you petty robber!" Frustrated, Shadow kicked a stone at the robber. Annoyed, the robber turned around, glaring at Shadow, "Get lost; you're just a little kid. What do you want?"

"Ah! There's an alchemist behind you!" Shadow pointed behind the robber. As expected, the robber turned behind. Shadow took this opportunity and hit the robber with his sword, but he made a mistake. He had completely forgotten that he was actually using a wooden sword to practice with his father.

Annoyed that he had been tricked by a little kid, the robber turned around and fling Shadow off to the ground. Shadow hit his head on a sharp piece of rock, gradually losing consciousness. Everything's going black. Noticing that Shadow was losing consciousness, the robber grabbed Shadow's wooden sword and wanted to finish him off, until…

"Boom" An explosion was ignited just between him and the little boy, pushing him backwards. Seeing the explosion, the robber knew the identity of his new pursuer. Panicked, he surrendered the necklace that he had gotten and ran away. Shadow can only see the shadow of the person who had saved him before his eyes close out to complete darkness. He's an alchemist, but his alchemy is so much different from father and brother.

"He suffered a deep cut, but he will be alright after a few days' rest." Shadow woke up to a stranger's voice.

"Thanks Havoc, would you like some drinks? It's been a long time since I've seen you." That's father… But who's that Havoc that he's talking about?

"Oh. Your boy's awake." Shadow struggled to get up, then noticing a blonde-haired man in the room, pulling out a cigarette, pointing to him. That must be Havoc.

"Father said smoking is not allowed here. It's not good for your health either." Shadow stated.

"Heh… Tough boy you've got here, Mentor. Okay, I won't smoke." Havoc put back the cigarette and watched Shadow get off the bed.

"What are you doing? You need rest right now. " Havoc quickly extended his hand, as if wanting to help Shadow onto his bed.

"I don't need rest. Sozes will need help serving the drinks." Shadow shrugged and went down.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Havoc asked, turning to Wodahs.

"He's a brave boy and stubborn too. Nobody can stop him, except maybe his siblings and Chika… And, he cut himself quite a few times before. He knows how to handle himself." Wodahs stated.

"He reminds me of you. Without those orange bangs, I would have thought it was you. Hey, is your son interested in that Chika girl?"

"Maybe, maybe not... His mind is hard to read. Even if he does, I would think that he would not know about it." Wodahs shrugged his shoulders. "Now, since Shadow's doing the drinks, you should go down. I do recommend his cocktails. He concocted them himself too." Wodahs opened the door and led Havoc to the first floor.

"Shadow, you're awake!" Shadow had just stepped into the living room when he was greeted with a hug.

"Chika, what are you doing?" Shadow was pushed to the ground by his childhood friend.

"Ha-ha, Mister Roy just brought you home, and your head is bleeding profusely. We were all worried for you…" Chika said, while getting off Shadow.

"I was bleeding? I remember now, that guy pushed me to the ground and an alchemist saved me." Shadow reached out to his forehead, then feeling the bandage on his head.

"You are weird."

"Oh yeah? Why did you say that anyway?"

"When one of the three of us got injured, you would freak out, but when you yourself are injured, you stay so calm and composed…"

"That's weird?"

"Yeah, and you're supposed to rest now."

"I don't need to."

"Just go up and rest!"

"I said I don't need to!"

"You two are quarrelling again?" A voice interrupted their 'conversation-cum-quarrel'.

"Hi dad (uncle)…" Shadow and Chika greeted.

"Um… I'll go make the drinks now."

"I'll go with you." With that, Shadow and Chika disappeared went off.

Wodahs sighed. "They've always like to quarrel with each other."

"Kids are like that. So, where's Roy?" Havoc appeared.

Shadow and Chika stepped into the restaurant, only to see a stranger at the counter table, pouring something into the bottles and started juggling them, while Sozes look at him.

"That's Mister Roy, the…" Chika pointed, turning to Shadow, only to see that Shadow's not beside her anymore.

"You're quite professional yourself…"

"You too."

Chika glanced back to the counter table, only to see Shadow and Roy doing tricks together and sweat dropped.

A few minutes later, "Both of your drinks are equally good…" Everybody is seated down, trying out both Shadow's and Roy's drinks.

"Roy's mother opens a pub, that's why he's also experienced like you Shadow." Wodahs explained to his son.

"He's also the alchemist who saved you, which I was saying, before you went by yourself."

"Sorry Chika, I can't resist…" Shadow scratched his head, then walking over to Roy and bowed, "Thanks for saving me…"

"No problem, you're a brave one."

"I've got a request…Please teach me your alchemy."

"Shadow, I did say that you're too young to learn…" Wodahs reminded Shadow.

"Ed and Al started learning a year ago… I really want to learn alchemy…"

"No can do… My alchemy, known as fire alchemy, is very dangerous. It's too dangerous for you to learn." Roy clenched his fists, thinking of what Riza, his master's daughter, had revealed to him.

Shadow looked down, "I'll go up to rest."

"I'll go with you. I think Sozes is up in your room too."

"Kay." Shadow looked to Chika, who seemed to trying to console him. Then the two of them disappeared.

"Geez… Aren't you being too harsh on a kid like him? I mean, both of you learned alchemy at the age of 7 or 8, but Shadow's 10 already."

"I don't want to be hardened so fast."

Havoc sighed; he has a long way to go before he can debate with his mentor. Meanwhile, Roy's silently thinking.

"Sozes, I'm back." Shadow opened the door to their room, only to see a frantic Sozes trying to hide something behind her.

"What are you hiding behind you?" Chika also seem to notice.

"No-no-thing…" Sozes stammered.

Shadow grew more suspicious. "You can show it to us, we won't tell anybody."

"Really? I'll show you two if you promised not to laugh."

"We promise."

Sozes took the something out, Shadow and Chika looked.

"You're growing plants?"

"I did say not to laugh."

"Open your eyes, we aren't laughing."

Sozes opened her eyes, and seeing that her brother and friend are not laughing at her plant, she smiled.

"How did you get that plant first?"

"I… found it dying… so I picked it up… and brought it home…"

Shadow examined the plant; it looks perfectly healthy to me…

"Sozes, are you sure the plant is dying? It looks healthy to me."

"It is partly sick; the caterpillars have been eating away at it."

"Putting it here… Brother will see it, and he might take it away, we should hide it."

"The problem is: where do we hide it?"

Shadow and Sozes looked at each other. They knew where would be the best place to put it.

"Are you too sure this would work?"

Shadow, Sozes and Chika are at the garden shed.

"It is good… Dad doesn't come to the back so often… And we can check on it without them getting suspicious."

"Alright… Let's go up before uncle gets suspicious as you are supposed to be resting…"

Later in the night, "We'll be going out for drinks; I'm going with them too." Shihiro told his younger siblings.

"Yes brother!"

Shadow watched them walk off, that Havoc still went off and smoked… Oh well…

"Brother, we are playing hide-and-seek! Come and play with us!"

"Okay, coming!"

Shadow watched the adults and his brother walked off before he went to join his siblings and Chika.

"A-ha! I found you, big sister!"

"For the last time, don't call me big sister!"

"Sorry big sister."

Shadow stifled a snigger. Sozes always managed to aggravate Mitsuko, but she doesn't really get disciplined for that.

"Who's cooking something?" Sozes asked.

"I don't know." Mitsuko answered.

Shadow took a deep breath. That's not the smoke that's created from cooking. I should know… No way! Something's burning!

Shadow scrambled out of his hiding place.

"A-ha! I found you, brother!"

"No time to waste! Something's burning! Go find Chika!" Shadow shouted while rushing down the stairs. Then, Shadow noticed a small shadow up on the ceiling. "Sky, go and get fluffy! He's most likely in the garden, get him away from the smoke! The smoke's not good for him or you either!" Sky is Shadow's pet eagle, which he had found injured along with baby rabbit Fluffy, current pet of Sozes. Sky nodded and flew off.

Shadow ran to the garden, where the smell of smoke is more distinct. He turned around, only to see the garden shed burning. Oh no! Sozes' plant! Without thinking, Shadow rushed into the shed. The smoke from the fire stung his eyes. I can't see properly, but I can't give up. He pressed forward. Luckily, his leather jacket saved from the burns. Then he saw the plant in the plastic container they have put it into. He grabbed it and wanted to run out, but the roof collapsed on him. A wooden plank must have hit him hard. He's gradually losing consciousness. Not again… Why is the fire dying down? I hear people… Argh… He saw total darkness again.

"He's coming around."

Shadow woke up, and then saw Havoc smoking in his room.

"Oh… I remember now… It's your cigarette… I saw you tossing it away…" Shadow stated, then remembering he had seen Havoc throwing his cigarette away before they disappeared in sight.

"It's me? Not my first time…"

Shadow glanced around, "Where's Sozes?"

"Your sister? She's tending to her plant right now." Havoc turned towards Shadow, who's getting out of his bed. He smiled. That kid's sure headstrong.

"Your sister's in the living room, with your father."

"Father found out about the plant?"

"Yup. Don't worry, he's not angry. Roy managed to convince him of something. You should go see them. Your dad said he's going to announce something after you woke up."

"Let's go then." Shadow walked and staggered, only to be supported by Havoc.

"I will support you." Shadow smiled.

"Shadow's awake!" Havoc announced when they've reached the living room.

"Hey Shadow! Nature wants to thank you for saving him." Sozes brought the plant up to Shadow's face.

"Nature? Why would you want to name a plant?"

"Dad says it's good for bonding, especially since we're going to learn alchemy."

"Bonding huh? Wait… Did I hear wrong? Did you say learn alchemy? We?"

"You've never heard wrong." Shadow turned around and looked at Roy.

"To learn how to control fire, you will have to combat fire.

"Does that mean?"

"I've asked your father. From tomorrow, you'll be training as a fire alchemist, under me."

Shadow looked at his father, who continued, "Mitsuko had stayed calm throughout the incident and help save the fire before we came. Sozes too, she ran over and found us. So, tomorrow, I will teach all three of you alchemy. But you and Sozes will still continue your weaponry and Mitsuko, her music lessons. I'll also teach Sozes nature alchemy.

Shadow looked over at his siblings, delight written over their faces, "Yay!"

Flashback end

"Are you alright?" A flashlight blinded him.

"I'm alright." Shadow forced a smile.

Sky flew down and perched himself on Shadow's shoulders. Shadow patted it on its head, while it nudged Shadow's ear.

"That was quite something you did, kid. What's your name?"

Shadow turned to see the Fuhrer standing beside him, his hands behind his back as he smiled.

"Shadow Matsudaira…, sir."

"Thank you for taking care of that robber for us. He was a real headache. Your alchemy skills are great too."

"Thank you, sir."

The Fuhrer stared at Shadow with curiosity. He expected a much enthusiastic reply, no just a non-happy or excited "Thank you".

"What are you here for boy? You seem alone."

"I'm looking for someone. She wants to be a state alchemist." Shadow replied, his voice not changing.

"There's a state alchemist examination going on in a few months' time. You might want to try that out."

"Sure, thanks sir. See ya round"

"That was quite something you did, kid." Yeah, that was something alright. Something a kid will not do. Most kids are innocent, I've grew hardened…Maybe it's because of the Ishbalan war…

"Even without your father or brother, your restaurant can still operate? That's awesome!" Edward looked up to his friend, grinning.

"Well, Sozes does the cooking; Mitsuko and I do our usual jobs, so there's no problem." Shadow smiled. It's been a few months since the siblings started learning alchemy. His father and brother were sent to help in the war. His friends, Edward and Alphonse Elric had it worse. Their mother had just caught a disease that had been going around, yet they are trying their best to smile at everyone, including Winry, their best friend.

"Say, where's everyone anyway?" Ed asked, looking around the deserted house, "everything's quiet since your brother and dad left."

"Sozes' attends to her plants, Chika's with her."

"Mitsuko's upstairs doing some song writing, she made a promise to brother, but she just don't wanna tell us anything." Shadow replied, glancing towards the stairs. Mitsuko's voice could be heard as she hums a melody, new to the group of friends.

Cliffhanger! Okay, next chapter will in mostly mitsuko's pov, so stay tuned?

Oh, and please review!