The Angel Wing Alchemist

Chapter 1: Fates in Motion

Alice awoke to an unusual sound. There was a metallic grinding coming from the direction of the kitchen. She rubbed her emerald green eyes and sat up in her bed. She peered around the room, trying to see past the murky light filtering in through the one, dirty window. Alice climbed out of her bed and crept past the other sleeping children in the room. She slowly made her way to the kitchen, listening to the grinding sound. She peeked around the corner only to find "Big Mama," as the orphanage children called her, scraping a worn frying pan with a twisted metal spatula.

"What are you doing?" Alice asked timidly.

Big Mama jumped at the sound of the unexpected voice.

"Goodness!" she cried. "You about scared my heart outta my chest, Alice! What are you doing out of your bed?"

"I don't know…I was having a strange dream. I woke up and heard you cooking." Alice noticed the spatula was bent and mangled. "When did that happen?" She asked, pointing.

"Oh, don't you fret, dear. It was caught on something in the cupboard there, and when I pulled it out it was all twisted."

"Here, Big Mama. Let me fix it." With a smile on her face, Alice took the spatula. She laid it on the worn counter, clapped her hands together, and placed them on the utensil. Electricity and light flowed around her hands; in a flash of light, the spatula was straightened out.

"You know the matron don't like seeing you do that…" She warned.

"Oh it's alright," Alice said, defiantly. "No one is here to see."

Big Mama brushed Alice's long, corn silk blonde hair from her cheeks with a loving expression. She patted the girl on the head and set her up with a glass of milk at the table in the center of the large room.

"So what was your dream about?" Big Mama asked, suddenly concerned. "Maybe I can decipher it for you."

"I can't really remember it well…" Alice began. "I remember it was dark, and I was cold. But there was someone there…calling to me…" She trailed off, trying to remember the details. She had a vague impression of a red coat and blonde hair. She shook her head, as if to clear the image. "It was nothing," she decided. "I won't worry about it. May I go back to bed?"

"Yes you may, dearie. It's still early yet."

Alice trekked off, back to her bed. She curled up under the threadbare sheets, and hoped for pleasant dreams. When she woke, the other children had all dressed and gone, to work, to play, or to bother Big Mama in the kitchen. She dressed in her tan skirt, dark brown stockings, and brown boots. She pulled on her brother's old white shirt over her camisole, and rolled up the shirtsleeves. After she had bound her long hair into a simple ponytail, she wrapped her arms around her torso and thought of her older brother, now six months dead. She shook her head slowly, trying to shake off her sadness.

"I think I'll go for a walk today!" She thought to herself. "Big Mama, I'm heading out!" She called at the door. "I'll be back soon!"

She walked out into the sunlight, shielding her eyes momentarily. She wandered down the road, past the pond where the children from the orphanage were playing, and into the town. She wandered aimlessly through the market, stopping to admire the clothes shops. She looked at herself, and wished she were able to dress up like the other girls her age. As she was on her way back toward the road, she spotted a little girl, Eva, along with a young boy, David; they were both from the orphanage. Eva was crying bitterly, and Alice jogged over to help.

"What happened?" Alice asked, her voice calm.

"She lost her doll." David explained. "The one her mother had given her."

"Oh no, that's awful…" Alice said, contemplating. "Ah! I've got it." She grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote a short list on it. "Go and fetch these things. Bring them right back here to me. Quickly!"

David ran off, and returned in a few minutes with the requested items. Alice quickly placed them on the ground, clapped her hands together, and transmuted them into a beautiful doll with brown hair and rosy cheeks. She handed the doll to Eva and wiped her tears.

"Be more careful, okay, Eva?" She said smiling. "Now you've got a pretty new doll, but you mustn't lose her, alright?"

"Alright." Eva said. "But I miss my dolly."

"I know, sweetie. Your mummy gave her to you, right?"

"Yeah. I miss my mum." She said, new tears spilling from her eyes.

"I know you do. But you will always remember her right? Which means she'll never leave you." Alice wiped Eva's tears and gave the girl a hug.

"Really?" She exclaimed.

"Really. Your mummy will always be in your heart."

"Thank you, Alice!" Eva chirruped. "Mummy will be in my heart." She smiled and took off running, towing David behind her. Alice watched them go, a thorn in her heart.

"I saw that." A deep voice said behind her. Alice wheeled around, preparing to defend herself. Expecting a rough character, she was surprised to see a military man standing before her. He was tall, with black hair, and dark eyes. He wore gloves with alchemy circles on them, and she could see the silver chain of a pocket watch dangling from his pant's pocket. She appraised him quickly, and backed up a step. She knew immediately who this man was.

"Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist." He offered a hand.

"I know who you are." She said frostily. "What do you want with me?"

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Seventeen."

"Hmm…You have power. How about becoming a State Alchemist?"