Sounds of a whistling chime rang aloud to awake the young woman. Her eyes slowly raised with a white gaze blurring her surroundings, bellowing ringing in her ears. When everything became clear, she discovered that she was sitting across a couple of seats. '..Huh?... Where... where am I?' Her thoughts trying to process what was happening. A man announced their destination, 'A train...? ...Why, am I on a train!?' Her body was calm, but her mind panicked. Maybe if she examined the environment she would get some answers. She turned to look out the window and for some strange reason, the landscape was not normal. Although the color wasn't the issue, it was the texture. It appeared that it was structured in some kind of cartoon and not just any cartoon, an anime...

'...This... t-this isn't right!...'

Sweat dripped off a lane against her brow, streaking off her chin. '...T-this is impossible! No, this isn't human, it wasn't... how could this...!' Her eyes widen, trying to grasp the reality outside. Her frantic mind stopped they're inconceivable thoughts and took notice of a voice.

"Excuse me, Miss, but is this seat taken?" A familiar voice that was rather raspy. She could have sworn she's heard it before, turning back she found who was responsible. The notorious Crimson Alchemist, Zolf J. Kimblee. He starred back with his stunning blue eyes, that dapper white attire posed him as a responsible gentleman.

'O-oh... oh my God...! What... what is he doing here?! How did I..! Am I... in the... F-Fullmetal alchemist anime?!'

"...Miss?" His voice hitched with a bit of concern.

She continued to stare at him, that was all she could do rather than squeal and hug the daylights out of him and scare him off. Or possibly get herself killed, the latter seems more fitting considering his reputation. "...I...I" She stammered with a lost of reality, words escaping from her reach. "...I-I'm sorry... I truly apologize. I didn't mean to stare, you can sit down. I'm not expecting anyone."

He was hesitant, standing with a look of uncertainty, but decided to follow up on her offer and took a seat across from hers. "Thank you." He said while sitting down, removing his hat all the while and placed it on the seat next to him.

...This was weird; as a matter of fact, words couldn't describe the situation... although...

The train took off, the sound of its' wheels rolling along the tracks. At least the silence wasn't completely awkward. She tried not to stare at the man, but, the fact that he was in her presence was... something that she couldn't comprehend. He seemed to be deep in thought, watching the landscaping pass by with each frame of the window secluding them from the outside. His hand was placed on his chin, covering his mouth with a furrowing brow. She didn't want to bother him but, she just HAD to say something. "...Um, listen..."

He turned his head towards her, his face still strict with troubling thoughts.

'...Wow, he has beautiful eyes.' "I'm sorry for staring at you. I didn't mean any harm by it, but, you just reminded me of a character... from a book..." Telling him that he was considered fiction and that she was from another universe was probably not a good idea. Well, why would it matter? He didn't know her and they probably weren't going to see each other again. And even if she told him, it's not like he would believe her, she has seen this show before and he had better things to do than to worry about some stranger who would be diagnosed with an unstable mental condition if she spoke of such things. Then, she realized that she was within reach of this Psycho Alchemist... that's what his title should have been. The same alchemist who had killed innocent people and never bothered thinking twice about it. She hoped he didn't implant a bomb on the train.

Was she really IN the anime, Fullmetal Alchemist?

Normally, he would have someone blown up for interrupting his thoughts. But he was in public and going back to prison was not an option. He would have to excuse this one. With a gentle expression, "It's no problem." He smiled, "So what's the book called?"

Her face twitched with astonishment, surprised that he responded in such a way. "... Ah, oh, umm, it's called Brotherhood... and it's about two boys and they explore the world, becoming "men" along the way. It's pretty common, but it's a good read."

"It's always nice to meet a fellow book lover, what's your favorite?"

"...I, ummm... don't really have one. It's hard to choose, I enjoy all books." Revealing her favorite was nearly impossible to someone from this era.

"I see. So, where are you headed? By the way you're dressed, I'd say it must be important."

What did he mean? She took a look at her reflection, and noticed her stylish clothes; a non sleeved dress, the top white, with alternating black and white stripes at the bottom, a black belt rounded her waist. A matching striped black and white bobbed hat that topped her head. '...I don't even know myself...' "...O-Oh, umm, I am visiting my... grandmother, yes! She is ill and I'm just stopping by to make sure she's okay. And she's particular about how you dress in front of her." 'That should sound believable, right?'

"Well, isn't that generous of you, I'm sure she'll appreciate the visit."

"Y-yeah, I hope so, it's kind of a surprise... um, by the way, my name is Melody Johnson."

"Zolf Kimblee," He extended his hand for a friendly shake, "And it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Johnson."

She attempted to respond with the same gesture, but remembered who this man was... what if he was going to have her explode?

"It's alright," he reassured with a smile, "You won't ruin the tattoo, it's permanent."

"Tattoo...?" When she noticed the circle upon his palm, it became clear that was how he conducted his alchemy. But, the tattoo wasn't what worried her, though he had no reason to end her life; that never stopped him in the first place. It is rude to leave someone's hand unattended, so with all her might, she placed her hand in his. Her heart resisted circulation, gripping any chance of a miracle as they made contact, waiting for an explosion, but, it never came. Thank God. "...N-nice to meet you." She returned the smile with relief. Odd, his grip was rather gentle.'Whew... that was close, thought I was going to see Jesus sooner than I expected...' "... Um, if I may... see your tattoo?"

He gave her a puzzling look, no one has ever asked him that before. With no objection, she studied his hand, tracing the thinly lined red circle with her finger, "This is amazing! How did you place a transmutation circle on your hand?"

"Ah, so you're familiar with alchemy?" Her enthusiasm stroked his ego.

"Uhh, just a little. It's not something I follow though. Do you have any more?"

"Well, aren't you a curious one. Actually, I have another on my other hand." Releasing one hand, he gave the other to study.

'Oh my God... am I in a dream? I'm actually touching him!' She began to fan girl while admiring the craftsmanship. She better make the best of it, with a good chance that they would never meet again.

"Huh, these symbols are opposite of each other. The sun and moon, water and fire, gold and silver. It's as if, you put your hands together and you create some kind of imbalance, creating some kind of chemical reaction..."

He studied her, confused that she knew what the symbols meant and her knowledge about the subject. "Hmm... impressive. For someone who doesn't follow alchemy you sure know a good amount..."

'...Crap! Maybe I said too much...' "...J-just something I recognized in my reading..." Not to convincing on her part. Only people who fully studied alchemy would know something like that. Even if a beginner knew about the symbols, she/he couldn't have known what they stood for and what the reaction would be. She returned his hands and moved back toward her seat.

"...Mind if I ask you a question?" He noticed her skin was particularly different from his. A bit of a chocolate shade engulfed her.

"Oh, n-not at all, what would you like to know?"

"Are you an Ishvalan?"

'...Huh? Why would he... oh, I understand. Isvalans have dark skin and, wait a minute, there weren't too many black people in the show, and judging from the timeline... let's see, this timeline was around the early 1900's, so slavery has been abolished, but still... my ancestors are still going through unjustified bigotry...' "No I'm not. Why do you ask?" Her tone was bewildered, shadowing her knowledge of the question.

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but your skin color is quite dark, but I've noticed that your eyes aren't red like an Isvalan's..."

"Last time I checked, they were a cocoa brown." A gentle laughed hiccuped.

"Then tell me... where did you come from?" He studied her by propping his elbows on the armrest and placing his chin in his hands. Crossing his legs as if she were an alien specimen.

"...I'm African-American and I'm guessing you haven't seen many of our kind here..." She was right, he hadn't seen much like her before. The closet thing was an Ishvalan, but, apparently she has none in her bloodline... for once in his life, nothing made sense. He's never even heard of such a nationality, how could she be from two continents and yet be in Amestris? Maybe she traveled...

"I know what you're probably thinking, but, let's just say, I came here to start a new life. My parents wanted me to have a chance to have a brighter future, so, I came here." Her response probably wasn't the best answer but what could she say? That she suddenly appeared from a parallel universe and that his world is a fictional Japanese comic? Soon a dilemma came into play... Melody was fully aware of the man's fate. Dying along the story line by the hands of his ally; should she tell him? After all he was a bad guy, so it was good that he would die, right? If he doesn't, that could cause a different outcome in the story and someone else could wind up hurt, or worse... but, didn't his life have value? Was his life any less meaningful solely because his beliefs tipped the scales of justice? Where was that moral compass when you needed it?

"I see..." Was all he could say when she finished. "I hope you enjoy your stay in Amestris and all goes well for you." 'I don't believe one bit of her story. There's no way she could have known about my alchemy and not fully study it. Something's not right about this woman...'

A weak smiled curled upon her face, "Thank you." He certainly was nice when he wasn't being a homicidal maniac. Why was he even on her list of her anime crushes? Maybe because she admired other qualities. He was intelligent, polite, and easy on the eyes. But, he wasn't interested about her background. He'd only asked to gather information, studying humans as if they were test subjects. In truth, he didn't care about life, he didn't even take his own in regard... he definitely shouldn't be on the crush list, the jerk. The train came to another stop, the announcer indicated the passengers their whereabouts.

"It seems as though this is my stop. It was a pleasure meeting you Miss Johnson and hopefully we'll cross paths some day..." His voice smoothed as he stood and top his head with that stylish fedora to complete his look.

"Likewise Mr. Kimblee." He departed, getting off the locomotive with several soldiers following. She figured he was on his way to pursue Scar, still... shouldn't she have warned him about his fate? How he would be bitten by a chimera and his ally would swallow him whole? Once all the passengers had aboard, the train began to take off once again, 'What should I do?... All life is valuable, just like the Elric brothers say. If I know something I should say something.'

Looking out the window, she saw the white clad man talk to his subordinates, they all nodded to his orders. As the train chugged further away, the more distant Kimblee became. She watched until there was no trace of him left. Letting out a heavy sigh, '...What was I suppose to tell him? It's not like he would have believed me... and besides, he's bad, no, the man is evil. If he doesn't die, then... he could put someone's life in danger. It could ruin the story... well, it's not like me being here already ruined it.'... No matter what she told herself to justify his death, she still felt guilty. If you're withholding information, you're just as bad as the culprit, that's what her dear ole lawyer mom said to her when she was a child. 'Mom, dad... I wonder if they put out a search party for me already. Even though I'm grown, they always treated me like a baby... I can't blame them though, me being an only child, they did what they thought was necessary to be protective. Since finishing college and being on my own... they're going to panic when they realize I'm no longer there...' While she wondered about life back home, an important question bolted through... "Where the hell am I going!?"...