A/N: One thing: Just so I know you actually know what's going on and have read this author's note, type "I am Edo-chan" at the end of your review. That idea was taken from Blue Neonlightshow, and I'm sorry if you get offended Neon, but I kinda need it this time. Now, for those of you who have read my other story, A Case Of Writer's Block, I have a few things to clear up.
First of all, I changed the name of my OC. I'm sorry, the original name was just not working for her, I kept calling her something else. So her name is now Rachel Armanda. Also, her age has been upped a bit, to age 14, and her back-story is different, as well as her place in the story. A lot has changed since I started writing CWB, and things are a little different.
And that leads me to something else: I may be deleting CWB. I'm so sorry, I do know how I can continue this story, but I just can't WRITE it, no matter how hard I try. And it was written on absolutely no inspiration, when I was new to FFN and I wanted to write something. I was a n00b and I admit it. I still am a n00b, but I have evolved a little bit in my writing and my characters. So, in short, I've outgrown CWB. I could still probably continue it if I really, really wanted to, but I don't. I have so many new ideas, and so many things to do, and I can't manage a story like this.
Oh, this won't be the last of Rachel. I'm not leaving FFN. And I will still write EnvyxOC, just because I love it and there are not enough of well-written stories involving it on FFN. I'm not saying I'll be able to write a good story, but hey, I can try.
So, CWB will be left up for a little while, at least until I make my final decision about it. If you object to me taking it down, you can leave a review about it, but I doubt that anybody cares it about it that much.
Anyway, I have this one to worry about! I hope you guys enjoy this new story, and any other stories to come!
See you later!
-Owl
"Brother? Did you hear what I said?"
Ed snapped out of his trance and turned to the younger Elric. "Huh?"
Al sighed. "Honestly brother, can you listen to me for once? I asked you to remind me why we are going to Central."
Ed scowled. "Well, for one, I have to report to that pathetic excuse for a Colonel, and two, I have to turn in my research notes."
Alphonse nodded. "Alright. Are you okay, brother? You've been spacing out a lot today."
Ed was silent for a moment. He turned towards the window. "I've just been thinking…do you remember Marcoh?"
"Yes," Replied Al.
"And Tucker?"
Al went quiet for a second. "Yes."
"And…."
"Dad? Of course brother."
Ed winced as he heard Al call that man their father, and then looked at his brother. "Well, that's a lot of alchemists. They were just scattered around, and some of them hid themselves so we didn't even know about them. So I started to wonder—How many Alchemists do you think are living in Central City?"
Alphonse began to ponder this. "Well, considering the amount of skill and studying alchemy requires, as well as the amount of materials you need to have for it…I have no clue brother…Three? Maybe four?"
"I was thinking about one or two," Ed replied.
Al smiled (or attempted to). "But most likely, none."
"Yeah." Ed relaxed and looked out the window again. "Most likely none."
_(...)_
Rachel sighed as the hot water of the shower ran down her back, soaking her long, light brown hair. She loved water. It was a symbol of life, and the element she chose to manipulate (Of course, she told herself, scientifically, it wasn't a single element at all). And the shower was one of the most inviting of all places, with the sacred lifeblood of the world running down her body, offering a warm gateway into her thoughts.
She had been seeing reports of violence all over Central, and had seen it affecting the citizens of the city. Mr. Kuso, her Xingese friend who owned a wonderful restaurant, had admitted to her the other day his fear of these bouts of criminal activity.
"I'm afraid of these people," he had told her anxiously. "They could hurt me or others I care about."
"Don't worry," She reassured him. "It's the military's job to put a stop to these things, right? They'll take care of it."
"I sure hope so," He remarked grimly, and continued talking to customers.
Rachel sighed again and started washing her hair. Sure, she would be sad if Mr. Kuso or anybody close to her were hurt or killed, but she could deal. It wasn't like she wasn't used to tragedy anyway…
She shook her head. No. She would not let herself think about that.
She finished and turned off the faucet. As she stepped out and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel, she heard the familiar voice of Jacob Fitzhammer coming from downstairs.
"Rachel! I'm not kidding! I'm coming up there to check, and if there is any water on the floor of the bathroom, I am going to postpone teaching you about drawing hair for a week!"
Rachel quickly looked around the bathroom and winced. As usual, she was unable figure out how to get the rings holding up the shower curtain over the one bumpier part of the rod, and as a result, the curtain was not close properly and there were gigantic puddles of water all over the floor.
She groaned. The last time she did this, Jacob had kept his promise and had postponed this one special lesson. She really wanted him to teach her how to draw hair. Whenever she tried to draw beautiful, gorgeous locks, they always ended up looking like crabgrass. Jacob had teasingly suggested that she drew individual, spiky strands because she was interested in men with long, spiky hair. And even when she punched him in the arm for making such a comment, she had to acknowledge that she wasn't getting anywhere on her own. She so desperately wanted that lesson.
She looked around and noticed that her stick of lip balm was resting where it usually was on the counter. She grabbed it and immediately began to draw a circle on a dry part of the floor.
She could hear Jacob coming up the stairs. "I'm coming! You hear me? One drop, and you won't learn about it for a week!"
She worked fast and threw away the balm. She clapped her hands together and slammed them down on the circle.
Within moments, atoms and molecules separated and mixed with new ones, and the water evaporated into the air. Rachel stood and wrapped the towel tighter around herself as the door to the bathroom opened.
In walked Jacob, his long blonde hair tied back into a short ponytail, his crystalline blue eyes inspecting the tile beneath him. "Hmm…" He looked at the floor, and Rachel held her breath, realizing that in her rush she had neglected to wipe away the transmutation circle. If he noticed it…
He looked up at her. "Finally. You have earned your lesson. Meet me downstairs tomorrow and we will start."
Her heart soared as he turned around to leave. Just as he was about to, something caught his eye. He bent down to pick up the balm, and her heart dropped again.
He turned and raised an eyebrow at her. He then noticed the somewhat sticky substance was also in front of his pupil, drawn in the special pattern that betrayed its purpose.
He looked at her. "Two weeks." And he walked out.
She gawked and ran after him. "Come on! I cleaned it up!"
He smiled teasingly at her. "Well, you practically lied to me, and that makes up for it. So two weeks."
She growled with frustration as he headed down the stairs, snickering all the while.
_(...)_
Envy was walking peacefully along the tunnels when he noticed his sister also strolling by his side.
"What is it, Lust?" He yawned and stretched. He hadn't been able to sleep very well the past few nights, and though he was a homunculus, it was started to take its toll.
His sibling glanced at him for a second before looking forward again. "Father would like us to investigate an alchemist living in Central."
Envy turned to her. "Huh? Why? Does he think he's eligible to be a sacrifice?"
Lust snorted. "Hardly. She is much too mundane for that. Even her skills in alchemy are so very average. And she's not even an adult yet."
Envy stared. "Then why does Father think she's useful? There must be some reason."
"There is, in fact," Lust replied. She pulled out a manila folder from behind her back and handed it to Envy. As he looked through it, his eyes widened slightly. He looked at her. "Is this?..."
"Yes," she nodded. "It is indeed. Wrath was ordered to retrieve it."
Envy shook his head. "But if this is true…then that might mean…"
"Never mind what it might mean," snapped Lust suddenly. "What it does mean is that we must follow Father's orders, and you must find a way to lure her to us."
"Why me?"
"Because you can easily change shape and will be able to take the form of someone she trusts better than a sketchy looking civilian." Lust then turned on her heel and walked away from Envy. "Spy on her for a few days to learn her friends and how she interacts with them, and then make your move. Don't mess up." And with that, Envy's sister disappeared down the dark tunnel.
Envy growled. "Geez, hostile much? She must've had a bad day…"
He looked at the files in his hand and opened them. "Alright, what was her name again?...Ah, that's right."
He closed the folder, and grinned when he imagined all ways he and his siblings might torture this girl into submission. He laughed. Oh, he could almost hear her screams as he imagined him slaughtering her friends before her eyes! Or would they let him drag a blade down her back, occasionally jutting it in a little? Ah so many things he could do to this poor human! What a marvelous prospect.
He smiled that wicked, sadistic smile that all who knew him recognized so well.
"Rachel Armanda, I am coming for you."
P.S. How many of you would choose to be The Chapstick Alchemist? I know I would. ^^