Roy walked down the dark, musty stairs, his gun gripped low in his hands.

"Stay here Lieutenant," he ordered to the blonde soldier next to him. "Make sure no one comes in." Hawkeye hesitantly nodded.

"Yes, sir." She withdrew her steps, and soon the only sound in the staircase was that of the Colonel's boots, clicking against the marble stairs. He took a deep breath as he reached the gray door, and he could see the overhead light flickering through the small window. He unlocked his gun as he placed a hand on the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open with a squeak. He entered, the tip of his gun going first, but when he saw the scene, he slowly lowered his arms, his eyes wide.

Blood covered the walls and floor, making them seem as if they were painted with the color. Bodies of the scientists that worked there littered the ground, their faces frozen in their last minutes of fear. He walked around, his body tense and his breath ragged as he looked for the culprit. He spun around when he heard something clatter to the floor, ready to shoot, but once again he was taken by surprise.

"…my God…" he barely whispered.

Shaking in a ball in front of him was a girl who looked to be no more than ten years old. She was in a corner, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, and dry blood covered her naked body.

Roy stared at her for a bit, his mouth gaping at the sight, but he soon came to his senses and took a step forward. He had to follow orders, he had to kill her.

"You there!" he yelled at her, his gun once again pointed at her. "Hey!" she jerked and continued to cry.

"I-I'm sorry!" she sobbed. "I didn't mean to, I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! Please! I didn't mean to!"

"There's no need to worry. You'll pay for your sins now." He wrapped his finger around the trigger, but continued to stare at the child as she continued to cry. He looked over her bare body, noting the scars and deep cuts that could be seen almost everywhere. What the hell did they do to this kid? He thought in horror.

He was snapped out of his daze when she suddenly raised her head up to him. Big, green eyes emerged from black hair and tears were streaming down her face.

"P-please! I'm sorry! Don't hurt me anymore, I'm sorry!" The Colonel was surprised to find his hand shaking, and didn't know exactly what he was doing until it was too late. His gun was put away, and he slowly walked to her, his hands up so as to show there was nothing to hurt her.

"It's alright," he said in a slightly shaking voice. "I'm not going to hurt you." The small girl looked up at him, her eyes still shimmering with tears. "I promise," Roy added, kneeling in front of her. She stared at him, her arms hugging her legs tightly.

"Y-you're not going...to punish me?"

He shook his head with a slight smile. "What's your name?"

"Name? My name...my name is Ella."

"Ella...that's a pretty name...my name is Roy Mustang," he said with a smile, and held out a hand for her. "Come on, lets get you out of here." She looked at his hand and then hesitantly took it in hers. Roy pulled her up and placed his black coat around her before picking her up in his arms. "Don't worry Ella, it's going to be alright now." She nodded slowly, looking up at him and hugging his coat to her tightly as they went back up the dark staircase.

When he reached the top of the stairs he was greeted by a worried Hawkeye running to him, but before she could even open her mouth she was interrupted by the Colonel.

"It's alright Lieutenant," he said. "It's taken care of." She looked at the person in his arms as he passed her and started walking to their car.

"Colonel, is that…is that who they were talking about?"

"That's right. This is the one who was causing so much trouble."

"But how could she possib--she's just a girl…!" Roy turned to her with a slight smirk.

"Why Lieutenant, you hurt my feelings. Don't you recognize my new daughter?" Riza looked at him in shock for a bit, then closed her eyes and nodded.

"I understand, sir."

"Don't look so gloomy Lieutenant," he said as he placed Ella in the back seat of the car. "You know you could never be replaced." Hawkeye merely walked passed him with closed eyes and into the driver's seat.

"Should we take her to a hospital sir?"

"No," he replied as he got in. "Take us to my place. We can't afford anyone else seeing she's alive."

"Yes sir." Roy looked back at the now sleeping girl as Riza drove off.

"Ella, huh? Just what could the military want with a girl like you?" Hawkeye glanced at him, then smiled slightly.

"Ella Mustang is a nice name, sir," she said. He smirked.

"Yes Lieutenant. It most certainly is."