Welcome, one an all, to my first Fullmetal fanfiction! I'm sorta excited about this *Squee*, haha. I've been writing the first six chapters all during class, so it took a little while! X] Promised I WOULDN'T post the first chapter till I got to five, and I just started six today during second period. This first chapter is mostly just showing my characters backstory, so sorry if it's a bit dull...

Oh, and I chose the rating of T cause there's going to be some mild langauge and such.. might change down.

Anyway, without further ado, please read on!

Disclaimers; I don't own anyone from FMA/FMAB but Artemis Armstrong, and I don't own the song "Again" by Yui, who's lyrics are chapter titles.

With that said, it's not a song fic either ^^ I just like the song, and it seems to fit very well with Arty's story.

Choosing One

Chapter One

I Will Always Remember the Depths of the Darkness

With a small grunt, I sat up in my comfortable bed, a frown plastered on my face. I had been awaken by the urge to run across the hall and use the bathroom. A drowsy feeling hung under my bleary eyes, making me wish I could just go back to sleep. Unfortunately, my body wouldn't allow it. With a small squeak, I slid from my bed, holding in the urge. The cold wood beneath my feet sent a shiver up my spine as I walked to my closed door. I streaked by my closed closet, a triumphant feeling in the pit of my stomach. The boogie man wasn't going to get me tonight. I placed my small hand over the cold metal door knob and turned it. As usual, a deafening screech came to my ears as the hinges moved against each other.

As quickly as I could, I slipped through the small space between the door and the wall, and ran across the hall, paying no mind to the noises I created- I had to go.

I flipped on the bathroom light, shut the door and did my business. Once I was finished, I flushed, grabbed my step stool and dragged it over to the sink to wash my hands. Before I turned the water on, I lifted my arms into the air, allowing gravity to pull down the overly large sleeves of my greenish blue nightgown which my mother had gotten me for my birthday last year. It was way too big on me, almost like a dress, but it was downy soft, and wonderful for sleeping in.

I turned the faucet on, did a quick wash, dried my hands on the towel that hung near the door, and retreated to my bedroom. I slipped through the sliver of space between the door and wall, got within a foot of my bed, and sprang onto the mattress. Daddy always told me no one lived under there, but I knew he was wrong. I snuggled back down into my covers, grabbing my purple teddy bear, Boogah, in the process, and prepared myself for sleep. That was when I noticed I left my door open, and, currently, someone was passing by.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I quickly repeated the task of getting out of my bed that I had done only a few minutes prior, only this time, I brought Boogah along. I opened the door all the way now, peeking my head out from around the wall, looking in the way the shadow passed. All I got to see was the basement door close. The basement was never off limits to me, although I didn't necessarily like going down there- where else would the monsters go in the day time when they weren't under my bed and in my closet? But it's also where daddy and mommy practiced for their job- alche-something. But why would they be practicing so late in the night?

I tip toed down the hall toward the door, pausing only momentarily before I grabbed the knob. Once opened, I made my way down the steps, one by one. Because I was so small, I had to use the railing for support and take my time, but I wasn't in a hurry. I must have been quiet, because when I made it to the final step, the person didn't even know I was there.

The light was dim, and I couldn't see much. Daddy's weights and stuff were shoved into the far corner of the room, which wasn't where it was supposed to be, and in the center, I could see faint white lines. In the middle of lines, which I could make out as a circle, sat two small, still bundles.

A sudden choking noise tore my attention away from the floor. The person, who I guessed was mommy- it was too tiny to be daddy- sat on her knees by the edge of the circle. It sounded like she was crying.

I had only ever seen my mommy cry once, but now... what was wrong? Coming off the last wooden step, my feet hit the concrete as I made for my mother. I wanted to comfort her like she always comforted me when I cried. I stopped after a couple of steps, though, because mommy had wipped her face and placed her hands on the circle.

Suddenly, my eyes were blinded by a bright light. Stumbling in the opposite direction, I awkwardly hit one of the concrete walls. Putting my back against it, I pressed Boogah to my chest with my right hand, holding him in front of me as protection. The light still blinded me, so I lifted my left hand in front of my eyes, searching for my mother.

After a few seconds, my eyes grew accustom to the light, and I let my arm fall to my side as I watched my mother perform her work. The blinding light soon became a faded blue. Something like lightning flashed around me. My wonder soon turned to fear.

"Mommy..." I whispered, but I knew she wasn't able to hear me.

As soon as my word was uttered, the blue became a dark, poisonous purple. Black smoke began to rise from the circle. Aside from the sounds that the fake lightning made, I heard my mother laugh, and even mumble a few words.

With reluctance, I took a step forward. Not to the circle, but to my mother. She could protect me.

An eye.

A strange noise of terror escaped my lips as a giant, unblinking eye appeared, hiding the two small bundles in the center. What was worse, black strands of something grew up and up, scrapping the wooden ceiling above us.

My eyes widened as I watched the scene unfold before me, clutching Boogah tighter and tighter as I fought the urge to run.

A blood curdling scream came from my mother as she fell backwards, holding her right arm up in the air. At first I was confused, wondering what had gone wrong, when I started to notice her hand was slowly disappearing. It was being broken apart by the black lines that came with the eye, only now the ends of them were hands.

"Mommy!" I screamed to her, her forearm slowly disappearing.

With lightning speed, she whipped her head around, her long black hair flowing in the air around her. Her bright blue eyes were filled with fear.

"Darling. Take mommy's hand." She told me, reaching her solid hand and arm out to me. By now, her other arm was gone, and the hands began to work on her foot and leg.

"Mommy... I'm scared!" I cried, tears pouring down my cheeks as I took a step towards the stairs.

Mommy's eyes became mean, her dark eyebrows knitting in the center as a frown marked her face.

"Arty, listen to your mother!" She barked at me, her command bordering on a scream, as she started to reach out to me further. Her face began to unravel.

"No!" As much as I hated disobeying my parents, I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to get away.

I turned and started to run for the stairs, holding onto Boogah with all my strength. I would have made it, too, if it hadn't been for my left arm swinging at my side. With brutal force, a hand wrapped around my index and middle finger, pulling me painfully around to face my mother who had little more than an eye and mouth left.

"You listen to your mother when she's speaking to you!" She roared, pulling me toward the hands and circle. And that eye.

I fought back, pulling with as much force as my little body could muster. In the process, I probably dislocated my fingers.

With a burst of more light, everything disappeared and then reappeared with lightning fast speed.

I was in a white room- my little bear was still pressed to my chest with all my might. It even began to hurt a bit. Looking around, I noticed it was too big to be a room. Or perhaps it wasn't? All I could see...Was white.

"Poor child." I jumped. A good ten feet away sat a being... I think. It was white as well, with little black specs that outlined its body. It had no mouth, no eyes...Nothing to distinguish it as human, other then its shape.

"You poor, poor child." It repeated a few moments later, "Not even here on your own accord, are you?"

It tsked, shaking its head.

"Still...Something must be taken."

A booming noise echoed from behind me. I spun around, just in time to see those black hands shoot out from a large stone door and capture me, dragging me toward the eye.

"No!... No stop!" I shrieked, kicking and scratching at the things that were coiling around me like snakes. In the process, I dropped Boogah from my grasp, and was yanked into the doorway in a matter of seconds.

"No- please! Don't kill me mommy! Let go!" I choked out, my words drowning in cries of terror and anguish.

"Artemis! Artemis, wake up!"

My eyes snapped open, and although they were blurred with tears, I could see my father.

"D-daddy..." I blubbered, salty tears and snot leaking into my mouth. I raised my hands to his face, waiting for the comfort I knew he had for me. My actions were short lived. The moment I raised my hands, my face was covered in blood. Blinking the red liquid from my eyes, I saw the source and the pain suddenly hit me. Two fingers from my left hand were missing- the two my mother had gripped as she dragged me to that place.

For a moment, both my father and I just stared at the bloody gaps before the fear, pain and terror set in.

"Look what mommy did to me!" I screamed at daddy, my voice hoarse. I shook my hand for emphasis, "Look at what she did! She tried to kill me! She tried to kill me! That bitch tried to kill me!"

XxXxX

I sat up with so much force, I was dizzy. Clutching my head with my hands, I steadied myself, letting the tears rain down my face. Another nightmare from that night. It always felt so real- It was exactly what happened that night, word for word...Except for the last part. I would have screamed it if I could, but I was only six at the time. I had no idea what a swear word was.

I calmed myself down over the next few minutes, reminding myself that it was only a dream and it wouldn't happen again. The woman who gave me life was long gone and forgotten.

Or perhaps not. She died that night, but no one could tell her parents the truth. "Yes, your daughter is dead- she tried to bring back her two dead twins with your granddaughter's life! Unfortunately, she was taken instead. Sorry for your loss!"

No. It was never so simple. They had been told there was a burglar- or something along those lines -and Shara Armstrong sacrificed her life to save mine.

Just thinking about her made me sick.

And even if anyone involved with the clean up wanted to blab, they practically had a fist waiting in their face. Not only my father, but my grandfather, as well, refused to let the truth out; even I didn't know the true reason for their secret keeping. "Such a disgraceful event should not be remembered in the Armstrong line!" was my best guess.

I shook my head, releasing the sickening thoughts from my mind. Today was not the day to think about this. I had to be focused. Today was my third, yes third, try at becoming a State Alchemist, and nothing was going to stand in my way.

So how was it? You like it? If so, leave a message and subscribe- there's more to come!

Questions, comments, confusions? Send me a message!

Next chapter to be posted in ONE WEEK, unless I can't otherwise due to business and/or laziness...

Heh... well I'll see you guys! Don't forget to review!

~Smart A.