A/N To begin, this is an edited version of the story FMA: Generations After. I still have some of it submitted here, and I'll still update it, but mostly so I can go through the editing process. This one is a million times better, I promise. It's set approximately 100 years after the events in the manga/brotherhood. We don't state any specific years, so don't get hung up on that. Anyway, enjoy.
Fifteen-year-old Joan Elric swung the silver pocket watch she always carried, trying to entertain herself during the train ride to Central. She had gotten the watch from a chest she found in the attic of her home. She knew the watch once belonged to her great-grandfather, Edward Elric, who was referred to as the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Joan opened the watch half to check the time and half just to look at the engraving on the inside. Don't Forget 3 Oct 11. It was ironic because the month and day were the same as when she tried human transmutation. What were the odds? The engraving meant something to her just as much as it did her great-grandfather.
Her watch was the same as the ones state alchemists once used to prove that they were certified alchemists. However, the state alchemist program had been abolished after Amestris became a democracy. Mysteriously, the funds for the state alchemists were still available. Joan had discovered this, and used the pocket watch to pay for many things and get admission into otherwise restricted areas. So that begged the question: was the program really abolished or did it secretly still exist?
After several months of searching, prodding, persuading, and asking pointed questions to the right people, she had managed to discover the state alchemist program was still in effect. However, rather than acting as military personnel, the state alchemists served as something similar to secret agents. They were called upon by the president and other high-ranking officials to handle matters that were supposed to remain secret from average citizens.
After several more months of searching, prodding, persuading, and asking pointed questions to the right people, Joan managed to earn the title of the Blazing Sun Alchemist. She wasn't sure if the reasoning for her code name was because of her golden eyes or because her ability to transmute without drawing a circle made her stand out amongst other alchemists.
She averted her thoughts as the train arrived. Pocketing the watch, Joan gathered her stuff and got off the train. She swept her gaze around the station, trying to decide what to do next when she saw a girl with braided dark brown hair walking in circles and took a moment to stare. Then she was distracted by her stomach growling loudly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten for a while. As she left the station and headed to one of her favorite nearby restaurants, she failed to notice her watch fall out of her pocket.
Joan hadn't made it far when she heard a call from behind her. She turned and recognized the girl from the train station moving toward her. "You dropped this," she said as she handed Joan her pocket watch. "Where did you get it? It's cool."
She paled at the thought of losing the pocket watch. Without it, she would have had no way to pay for anything she needed. Pocketing the watch and smiling at the girl, Joan replied, "Thanks. It's kind of a family heirloom." After a pause, she offered in an effort to repay the girl, "Do you want something to eat? I can pay."
"Oh, thanks. Lunch sounds great, but I can pay for myself," she replied kindly. "That's awesome, by the way, where you got that watch. I've seen pictures of those watches in books and stuff, but I didn't think I'd ever see a real one."
I guess I'd better be careful. Some people might actually recognize my watch, Joan thought. She smiled as they began walking. "Are you sure you want to pay?"
"I'm fine," the girl assured her. "So what's your name anyway?"
"I'm Joan Elric. You?"
"Clarissa Mustang."
"Mustang? Like President Mustang?" Joan asked, recognizing the name from her history textbook.
Clarissa shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah. I get that a lot."
Once at the restaurant, they took a seat and ordered their meals. While waiting for their food, Joan asked, "So what were you doing at the station walking in circles?"
Clarissa looked a bit embarrassed. "I pace when I'm bored. I was hoping, Laura—that's my sister, by the way—would meet me there, but she never showed."
From behind, Clarissa heard her name. Turning to look over her shoulder, she saw her sister standing behind her. "I thought we were going to meet at the station," Laura questioned.
Looking between the two, it wasn't difficult to tell they were sisters; they had similar facial features and a similar build. However, Clarissa had brown eyes while Laura's were green. "Is this your sister?" Joan asked politely, not wanting to assume anything.
At the same time, Laura looked at Joan with a confused expression and asked Clarissa, "Who's this?" She sounded almost suspicious.
"I asked first," Joan said, her tone slightly defensive, without giving Clarissa a chance to answer.
"I'm Clarissa's older sister, Laura. Now what's your name?" She demanded impolitely.
"Laura," Clarissa interceded, giving her a pointed look, as if to tell her to calm down. "This is Joan. I met her at the station. She offered lunch. I didn't think you were coming."
"You want some?" Joan offered, trying to relieve the tension that had somehow built between the three.
Laura seemed to relax. Shrugging, she claimed a seat next to her sister. "Sure, why not?"
"So," Joan began, "what are you guys doing in Central?" She couldn't help but wonder what two young teenagers were doing on their own. She dismissed the fact she was around the same age. She knew what she was doing.
Clarissa answered carefully, like she was trying to avoid mentioning something, "Well, I'm just traveling. I dragged her here because to I wanted to see her." She gestured toward her sister. She asked Joan, "What are you doing?"
Joan hesitated before replying vaguely, "I'm looking for someone."
Clarissa nodded, gathering that Joan didn't really want to talk about it. Clarissa opened her mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by a large explosion that was close enough to shake the building.
"What was that?!" Laura exclaimed.
As the waitress returned with their food, slightly distracted by the explosion, Joan stood up and left in a hurry without saying a word.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Clarissa called after her as she stood up to follow.
The waitress watched the two leave, holding the three plates of food they ordered, looking uncertain. Leaning back in the chair, Laura told her, "I'll stay for the food." After taking a few bites out of her meal, she noticed both Joan and Clarissa had left their suitcases behind. Before abandoning the food, she set the money they owed on the table while quietly cursing, and started carrying the two suitcases as she rushed to catch up to the other girls.
It didn't take Clarissa very long to catch up to Joan. Between breaths as they ran, Clarissa demanded, "What are you doing? Where are you going?"
"It's nothing you need to worry about," Joan replied, almost too hastily. Clarissa frowned skeptically, her eyes narrowing.
Before Clarissa could respond, Joan skidded to a stop in front of her. To avoid running into her, Clarissa slid to a halt. Wondering what made the other girl pause, she glanced ahead to discover a grotesque monster that appeared to be a mix between a gorilla and a crocodile. Gasping in shock, she exclaimed, "Is that a chimera?"
"You should get out of here," Joan instructed seriously.
Clarissa was about to protest when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked in time to see a flash of blue fabric disappear underneath a nearby manhole cover. She paid it no mind and turned her attention back to the chimera when it let out a loud roar and saw Joan stab the beast in the knee with a sword she clearly hadn't had a moment before.
Deciding she didn't want to let Joan fight the chimera alone, Clarissa shoved a glove, decorated with transmutation circles, onto her hand and touched the ground. Alchemical light flashed around her fingertips and then earthen spikes erupted upwards. They launched toward the chimera, barely missing Joan.
"Hey!" Joan turned around and shouted at her, "I thought I told you to leave! This isn't your job!"
"It's not your job either!" Clarissa retorted. Before Joan could reply, the chimera managed to clamp its jaw around her left arm while she wasn't looking. "Joan!" Clarissa yelled, but was surprised to see Joan was strangely calm.
"Don't worry about me," Joan assured her, "I'm fine." Using her sword, she stabbed the creature in the chest. It let go of her arm as it reeled back with a cry of pain. The sword was pulled out of Joan's grip as the chimera backed away, leaving her weaponless. To compensate, she clapped her hands together and slapped them on the ground. With a flash of light, the ground morphed into a new weapon.
She's an alchemist too, Clarissa thought in surprise. Her attention snapped to Joan's arm, wondering what kind of alchemy she had used to protect it. Seeing a glint of metal from underneath her torn sleeve, Clarissa immediately understood. Oh, it's automail. That explains it.
As Clarissa ran forward to help again, Laura appeared panting in exhaustion and carrying two suitcases. Clearly surprised, she dropped them when she saw the scene playing out before her. Then, seemingly out of habit, she clapped her hands together and pressed them against a nearby wall to create pointed projectiles to launch at the chimera.
Joan stepped back for a moment to look at Laura as she exclaimed, "You too?! It's really not a good idea to be here!"
"Shut up!" Laura shouted as she clapped her hands together again, "Just be glad I'm helping you!"
Clarissa noticed Joan's eyes widen in shock. It took her a moment to realize why; Laura hadn't used a transmutation circle. Clarissa was about to ask her sister how she had done it when the chimera leaped at Laura, and she decided the questions could wait until later. Laura ducked and rolled underneath the creature to avoid injury.
Joan clapped her hands and her sword changed into a spear. She was prepared to throw her newly transmuted weapon when someone beat her to it. The chimera collapsed to the ground, killed by a spear—made of iron judging by the look of it—jutting out of its forehead. A large man with dark skin stepped out from a nearby alley, adjusting his suit.
"Blazing Sun," he scolded Joan, "Why aren't you in church?" Clarissa couldn't help but think his comment was extremely random. Why was he caring about church now, at a moment like this?
Joan rolled her eyes as she responded, "I'm not religious, remember? We've been over this, Iron Priest."
"Shame, really," the man, Iron Priest apparently, muttered as he removed a pair of white gloves embroidered with transmutation circles; he carefully folded them and slid them into his pocket.
Clarissa met eyes with Laura with a questioning look. Quietly, she whispered to her sister, "Who is this guy?" Laura only shrugged in response.
Suddenly, Iron Priest turned toward the sisters and questioned, "I suppose neither of you are religious either?"
Shaking their heads quickly in unison, Laura offered uncertainly, "Forgot it was Sunday."
In the distance, the sound of a church bell could be heard. Iron Priest quickly opened a silver pocket watch to check the time. Making a small noise as if he were surprised, he said, "Oh, dear, I'm going to be late. Blazing Sun, can you call someone to clean this mess up?"
There's that term again. Blazing Sun. Why does he keep calling her that? Clarissa wondered, pursing her lips in thought.
"No problem," Joan replied as he turned and walked away.
Once Iron Priest was out of earshot, Laura asked Joan, "Who was that?"
Joan answered as she dialed a number on her cell phone and put it against her ear, "Just…an acquaintance of mine." Not saying anything else, she turned away to focus on her phone call. After a vague conversation with whoever answered about sending someone to clean up the mess, Joan hung up and picked up her suitcase.
"Well, thanks for bringing me my suitcase. And thanks for helping with the chimera, even though you shouldn't have," Joan said as a farewell.
Clarissa stopped her. "You're welcome. But, before you go, I have to ask; where did you learn to use alchemy without a transmutation circle?" Pointing at Laura, she added, "You both did it."
Joan's expression hardened before she replied, "It's not something you want to learn." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and began walking away.
Under her breath, Clarissa muttered, "She just doesn't give a straight answer, does she?" She turned to Laura and said, "I'm guessing you aren't going to tell me either?"
Significantly paler than a few moments before, Laura shook her head and replied, "I agree with Joan. You really don't want to know."
Clarissa sighed, and then fell silent, staring after Joan. After a moment of silence, Laura asked warily, "What are you thinking?"
"I need to know more."
Groaning, Laura replied, "I knew it was going to be something stupid."
"Hey, can you blame me?" Clarissa defended. "She obviously has something going on, and I want to find out what. Come on, I'm going to follow her."