Snapshots from the Past
A/n: (EDIT) This has to be fixed! I forgot the disclaimer! Whaa~ Well, I guess all of you know that Fullmetal Alchemist belongs to Arakawa-sama...
1: Alchemy
Roy's passion for alchemy had begun early, and fortunately, was discovered early as well.
It all began on the annual military parade of 1892, when Roy was only seven. In the parade, some of the State Alchemists had shown off their magical abilities in an attempt to attract more State Alchemist applicants, and little Roy, who was watching it, was fascinated. He had managed to talk to one of the State Alchemists, who encouraged him to learn alchemy.
Roy went home excitedly that day. He told everyone about his conversation with the State Alchemist: his all-ears foster mother Madam Christmas, his curious adopted sisters and even his mother's afternoon customers (which at that time, also consisted of a young Colonel Grumman).
Madam Christmas supported her only son's passion whole-heartedly. She looked for alchemy tutors, but none were competent enough for Christmas' standards. While searching, she supplied Roy with various alchemy textbooks, who knew where she got it because they weren't some random alchemy books founding local bookstores. Roy's capability to read was far more advanced than most children of his age, so he had nearly no problems with the books that covered the basics. He had stumbled on difficult terms such as 'transmutation' and 'equivalent' at first, and Chris made him spell these words three times out loud before supper and three more times before bed. Roy had proceeded to read the books Chris gave him as his bedtime stories. These books, though, were more science, chemistry-related than to real transmutation. However, these satisfied Roy enough.
In only eight months, Roy had managed to memorize the whole periodic table, complete with its mass and proton numbers, and the most vital basics of alchemy such as the Law of Equivalent Exchange, or that 'alchemy is for the people', and that human transmutation was a forbidden thing to do. But Madam Christmas still couldn't find a competent teacher for Roy, and day by day his need for a teacher increased rapidly.
Roy had just arrived home from school one day when Madam Christmas told him the good news.
"Roy-boy," she said, ruffling Roy's short black hair, "Guess what surprise I have."
"Ma, don't mess up my hair!" the boy protested, trying to tidy his hair. "I get a surprise? But it isn't my birthday! Hm… Let me guess… More alchemy books?"
Chris shook her head, "Nope."
"A new toy? Puzzles!" he beamed at his own mention of his favorite type of game.
Chris shook her head again, "No." She smiled and gave a hint, "You've wanted this for months."
"An alchemy teacher!" Roy beamed again.
"Yes," Chris nodded. "Mr. Hawkeye lives in a small town between the Northern and Eastern cities. You will stay with him. The lessons will start next month."
"Yipee!" Roy yelled happily and launched himself to hug attack his aunt and foster mother. "I love you, Ma!"
Chris hugged Roy back and messed his hair once more. "I love you too, Roy-boy."
