Disclaimer : I don't own any characters from Full Metal Alchemist and this story is based on the creations of the very talented Arakawa Hiromu. Story doesn't exactly follow the anime or manga but it is fanfiction after all.
Black Feather Alchemist : Story of Broken Dreams
Chapter 1 : Prologue
Without sacrifice there is no gain.
Alchemy has many laws, all which were broken at one time or another. At times, alchemy was used for purposes other than what it intended. Creating human life, bring back the dead or other things alchemist try to do and fail to succeed. Yet they don't expect the consequence of attempting certain things like that with alchemy. Alchemy was not the solution to every problem and people failed to realize it. It was those people that were considered in the military, complete idiots. Until Edward Elric became a certified state alchemist. The youngest alchemist to join the military and also the most foolish of them all. He had broken the rules of Equivalent Exchange and as punishment for his mistake, he lost his right arm and leg while his brother lost his entire body. Now with an automail arm and his brother's soul contained in a suit of armor, Edward joined the military in hopes of finding information on a stone that could possibly restore their bodies. They were living, breathing proof that alchemy should not be misused for personal reasons. Of course, no one took this life lesson seriously. Edward and his younger brother, Alphonse were too likeable which led people to believe that they didn't deserve the awful life they lived. Of course their enemies thought they didn't deserve to live the life either and thought they might do the two a 'favor' by ending it early. There were those who believed that if you don't know how to work with alchemy then don't try. The consequences are fatal and life-altering. Although there are stories of alchemist who live just as bad lives without the help of alchemy. There is one particular alchemist, one who isn't as liked by the people as Full Metal but just as famous as he is. An alchemist who believes greatly to abide by the laws of alchemy despises anyone who doesn't yet still has a complicated alliances with those to break the very rules of alchemy. Although, there are different arguments against alchemist other than stay true to the laws. The fact that many people believe alchemy is a sin against God. That alchemy shouldn't be used. So as things progress, it becomes the military vs. the people. As the law goes, without sacrifice there is no gain. Sometimes, the military needs to bring out the worst in its alchemist. Just to gain more power.
Power, in the eyes of the people and military, is all that matters.