Violet Flamel

You can't make something out of nothing... For something to be created something of equal value must be sacrificed. This is the law of equivalent exchange, the basis of all alchemy. Because of it there is a taboo among alchemists; human transmutation is strictly forbid. For what could equal the value of a human soul?...

"Ow," the girl groaned, putting her hand to her forehead.

"I'm so, so sorry," said Edward. He picked up her groceries and tried to give them to her.

She backed away from him, "It- it's alright, keep them. I can get more," she stammered.

Edward could see the fear in her eyes and wondered what it was about. Had she heard about him from father Malik? It didn't seem likely, no one else in town had recognized him.

"It was my fault you fell," he reached her groceries out to her, "these are yours, It wouldn't feel right just to take them from you."

The girl stepped further backward, "It's okay, really. I don't want them," she said.

Then why did you buy them in the first place? wondered Edward.

"Well, neither do I," he said.

"Then give them to someone else."

Ed stared at her for a while, he was confused- and he pitied her. He hadn't done anything yo hurt her, why the hell was she so afraid?

Finally, Ed decided to leave her grocery gags in front of her.

"Here," he said, "in case you change your mind."

Ed started to walk away, incapable of looking into her eyes for another moment, when he noticed another apple on the ice.

"Wait," he said, "I missed one."

"No," said the girl, "I've got it."

She reached for the last apple as he did and their hands met; they looked up at one another.

She was a small girl, scarcely a hair taller than himself, with alabaster skin, thick, scruffy, raven hair and the oddest purple eyes.

In a split second she looked down at her hand touching his own and jerked away, overcome by horror.

"What's wrong?" asked Edward.

The girl was shaking now, staring at her glove covered hand with tear filled eyes, through her fingers she saw Edward. His face showed a thing she hadn't seen in a lifetime, human empathy.

She forced herself to stop shaking and took the apple out from under his hand, careful not to touch him.

"Nothing,"she said, steadying her voice as she stood up, holding her groceries in the crooks of her arms, "What's your name?" she asked him incredulously, "I haven't seen you around before."

Edward was startled by her sudden change of mood, "Huh?- Oh, it's Edward, what's yours?"

"Violet, Violet Flamel."

Edward stifled a gasp, "That's a nice name."

This shaky little girl was Violet Flamel? But still, if she was as bad as the people here made her out to be her size wouldn't matter, it would probably be best if she didn't know he knew who she was.

"Thanks," she smiled gently but the fear and sorrow never left her eyes.

Edward thought for a moment about the proper way to approach this.

"Do you know a nice place to eat around here?" he asked suddenly, "I'm from out of town."

"Obviously," whispered Violet under her breath.

"What?" asked Edward.

"Nothing,- and no, sorry," she replied to both questions, "I wouldn't know where any kind of place to eat around here would be, I don't get out much."

Edward shrugged, "I could use a good home cooked meal."

For a moment she looked surprised, then she frowned, "Well," she said, "I'm not much of a cook."

Edward shrugged again, "I don't mind, how bad can you be."

"You've never actually tasted my cooking," pointed out Violet.

Edward simply chuckled, "Well, I will tonight."

"I don't know," she continued, "it's been a really long time since I had someone over..." she bowed her head, deep in thought.

"Oh, come on," urged Edward.

She raised her head, "Oh, what the heck, how's seven?"

"Seven's perfect."

Violet smiled smally and started to go down the street, but she stopped half way, looking back at him she shouted, "My house is the ugly one on the edge of town, you can't miss it!"

"Wait, can I bring my brother?" he asked her loudly, remembering Alphonse.

"Sure!" and with that, she was off.

Edward smiled in smug satisfaction before heading to town square where Al would be waiting.

Al still sat in the same spot on the fountain he had since Ed had left when a little girl came up to him.

"Have you seen my doll-" she began.

At that moment the woman Al assumed was her mother, came out of no where, grabbed her and ran away as if she were running from a ticking bomb.

Al watched them, then sighed and closed his eyes.

"Hey, Al!" he heard his brother's voice approaching.

He jumped up, "What is it, brother?"

"I found her," panted Edward, breathing was so much more difficult in the chill air of the north.

"Violet Flamel?" asked Al.

"No, Fuhrer Bradley, who did you think?" asked Edward, irritated.

"What's she like?" asked Al.

"She's just a kid, my age, she's really shaky though. We're eating dinner at her house tonight."

Violet arrived at her humble abode, coming through the back door because the front door stuck so badly. The door opened into a plain kitchen filled to the brim with trash and clutter. So as she entered she didn't throw her coat up on a rack, but on a pile of trash by the door, she didn't remove her gloves, however, she could never do that. She set her groceries in the only remaining space on the yellow tile counter before heading into in the living room.

"How could you invite someone over Violet?" she asked herself aloud.

"I don't want to be alone anymore," she replied, clenching her fists as tears came to her eyes, "I've been doing this too long and I don't know how much more I can take."

"Alright, but don't get too close. You know what happens when you get to close."

"I could never forget."

At that moment she bumped into the couch, pulling her away from her thoughts. She cleared a space and the beige couch, which squeaked loudly as she sat down.

"But I've got a clean slate with Edward," she whispered.

Violet lifted up one of her hands to face and stared into her palm as if the devil himself lied inside it.

And I really could use one, she thought.

A small cat with wings flew across the room and landed in her lap, pawing her and meowing pitifully.

She smiled gently and began to pet it.

When the hour of seven arrived Edward and Alphonse came to the edge of Ryulbury, and there, sure enough, was just about the ugliest house they had ever seen. It looked like it had once been a nice house but hadn't been properly cared for in years, the paint was peeling off the rotted wooden siding, the shingles were falling off the roof and the grass was so high bits of it could be seen above the 3 foot thick layer of ice that covered the lawn.

"Is this the place?" asked Alphonse.

"It's got to be," said Edward, "this is the ugliest house in town."

Alphonse looked at the house again, "I don't know," he said, "it doesn't look like anyone has lived here in years."

"Only one way to find out," remarked Edward.

Alphonse went up to one of the snow banks and hit it with the flat of his hand.

Edward came up behind it and poked it with his finger, "Is it stable?" he asked.

Al nodded, "Yes, it's solid ice," he helped Edward up the side, "but be careful, though, it's slippery."

Alphonse climbed up as well and they went over to the door.

Edward stepped in front of the door, next to it was a wall mailbox, rusted shut from lack of use.

"I sure hope this is the place," said Edward. He hesitated, then knocked.

"Be right there!" he heard Violet's voice shout.

They waited, hearing a lot of strange noises- the sound of something flapping.

"Seamus!" they heard her voice again, the clicks of locks, the door went in slightly but didn't open.

"Uhh," they heard Violet's voice, "would you mind too terribly pushing on the door? It sticks."

"Uh," Ed and Al looked at each other, "No, not at all."

"Good," said Violet, "I'll pull, ready?"

"Yup."

"Now!"

They pushed with all their might, Violet pulled with all of hers. When the door finally opened the force sent her to the floor.

Virtually unfazed she stood up and gestured them in, "Come in, come in."

Al obeyed but Ed stopped to see why the door stuck so much, it was a lot more obvious the he thought. The part of the door that held the lock was frayed and practically torn open. Did we- no, this was old, dust and grime had collected on the frayed wood.

"You coming, Ed?" asked Violet.

"Huh?" said Edward, returning to reality, "Oh, right."

He caught up with them as Violet went over to Alphonse.

"It's nice to finally meet Ed's older brother," she said.

Al raised a hand in protest; Ed nearly blew a gasket.

"Alphonse is my younger brother," he said, forcing himself to stay calm.

"Oh," said Violet, she looked over at Alphonse again, "really?"

Ed's face was turning redder than his coat, "Really."

Violet shrugged, "Okay, then."

Alphonse reached his hand out to her, she flinched, he retracted, "Umm, I'm sorry about the armor."

Violet shook her head, "No, I'm sorry. It's not you really." Her voice was utterly sincere.

Edward looked around Violet's cluttered home, it didn't look like anyone lived in it from the inside either. Old newspapers, food containers beakers and books among other things were piled up to the ceiling. It was a large house but since it was so filled with trash it made Edward feel more and more claustrophobic.

"Sorry about the mess," said Violet, awkwardly shoving trash aside with her foot, "I haven't had company over since well, ever."

They heard a noise, Violet's head turned in a flash.

"Seamus," she whispered and stepped into the room that seemed to be the kitchen, "The food's on the table!"
"Now we just need to find the table," said Edward.

It wasn't as difficult as they originally imagined, but it did take them about three minutes to realize that they were in the dining room. They cleared away part of a pile of junk to discover a huge table with fifteen chairs around it. Violet had cleared off three of the chairs so she and the brothers would have a place to sit. Three plates set before them holding, charcoal?- no, it was meat and vegetables of some kind.

"Wow," said Edward, "she wasn't kidding about her cooking."

They heard the rustling of some trash, it was Violet, tripping over the trash and herself as she made her way over to them.

"Hi," she said awkwardly when she noticed they were both staring at her, "I'm kind of a klutz."

She came closer to them, she tripped over her own pant leg and fell to the ground. She groaned softly.

"Are you okay?" asked Alphonse.

"Yeah," she said, pushing herself up, "I'm always okay."

She walked over to them, "So," she said, "how's the food?"

Edward looked down at his plate, the food looked anything but appetizing.

Well, he thought, cutting a small piece of what he hoped was meat and stabbed it with his fork, I guess there's no way I can get out of this now, I don't want to insult her.

Edward ate the bit of meat he had cut off, unbelievably, it tasted worse than it looked but he choked it down.

"It's not terrible," he had to force out those words.

She smiled, "That's actually the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my cooking."

Edward wiped his tongue on the sleeve of his coat as Violet turned her head over to Alphonse, "What about you?"

Al looked down at the food but unlike Edward he couldn't even eat or pretend to like it.

"I'm full," he said quickly, "sorry, I had a big lunch."

"That's alright," said Violet cheerfully, "you aren't missing out on much, I promise."

"Uh, Violet," said Edward, "could you get me something to drink?"

"Sure, milk or water?" asked Violet.

"Water, definitely."

"I'll be back in just a minute," said Violet, she went carefully back into the kitchen.

"Are you sure she has a philosopher's stone?" Alphonse asked once she was gone.

"Not sure," said Edward, "but something about her little dork routine isn't sitting right with me."

At that moment Violet returned with a glass of water, she gave it to Ed.

"Thank you," said Edward.

Violet smiled, "You're welcome," she looked over at Alphonse, "would you like some thing to drink, Alphonse?"

"No, thank you," said Al, "and you can call me Al, every body else does."

"Thank you, Al," said Violet.

She sat down and almost instantly there was a change in her demeanor, "You know, typically," she said, taking a small bite of her dinner, "everyone who comes here learns very quickly that they should stay away from me, but you didn't- not that I'm ungrateful. But there is no way you couldn't have heard the warnings, and you came here with your giant-(no offense, Al,) armor plated little brother. So I have to ask, why?"

Edward seemed startled by that question, a fork full of food held up in mid-air. He set it back down on his plate.

"Well, actually," he said, "I didn't talk to anyone other than you in the town. Why would they tell me to

stay away from you? Do you have some incurable disease or something?"

"NO," said Violet, she stared down at the table, "let's just say state alchemists don't have the best reputation up here."

"You're a state alchemist!" said Alphonse.

She shook her head, "No, but my dad was. I would never do something as awful as that..."

"What do you have against alchemists?" asked Edward, toying idly with his fork.

"It's not alchemists in general I have a problem with, it's this country's military I don't much care for." said Violet.

"Well, other than skill level, what's the difference between an alchemist and an alchemist with state certification?" asked Edward.

Violet tapped the table, "Well.." it was difficult for her to put her thought into words, "it's the difference

between a normal person and a soldier."

"What do you mean?" asked Ed. Keep her talking, eventually, she'd forget her original question.

"Well," she continued, "a normal person may not have all the abilities and resources that a soldier does, but, they're always in control- but a soldier," -she shook her head- "everything in war is grey, so they can never be sure they're doing what's right, or even what's best. It often get's to the point where they're just blindly fallowing orders because they have to."

"That's not true, you can always refuse orders," said Edward.

Violet forced a wry smile, "But at what cost? Most alchemists with certification rely on it, the government makes sure of that. So there isn't any hesitation even when they give the unthinkable order."

"What order?"

She looked up from the table and directly at him, "The order to kill, and in the end, the only choice they

have is to obey." said Violet, "They aren't called the military's dogs because the way turned on the people, there called that because of the way they are so easily turned on each other, with the realization that, the person who fallows the order is the one who keeps their job. And someone always will, so refusing the order doesn't save any one. It's really no wonder why so many of can turn into monsters."

Edward squeezed his auto mail knee hard, "So I guess your relationship with your father isn't so good,"

he said.

"Not really," sighed Violet, she turned her head carefully away, "I really do hate this country, if I had the money to leave I would. Be a nomad," -she smiled then, her face brightening slightly- "because every place seems like a good place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there."

"Sounds to me like your running from something," remarked Edward.

"What about the two of you?" she laughed, "the two strange boys from out of town, what are you running from?"

"Not running from, looking for. There's a big difference."

"That's debatable."

"I disagree," said Edward.

"See?" said Violet victoriously, "You just proved my point, were already having a debate about it."

Al glanced at Edward, his face showed, not the usual phoniness he'd been displaying repetitively during this meal, but genuine amusement.

He looked back at Violet, "So where is your father now?"

Violet's smile disappeared instantly as if Al had wiped it away, "He died in the Ishbalen civil war."

"I'm sorry," said Al.

Violet took a little bite of food, "That's okay, don't worry about it."

"What about your mom?" asked Edward, "Is she around?"

Violet shook her head, "She travels a lot."

"She left you all alone?"

"What's the big deal? I can take care of myself," she started rubbing her arm red, Edward could tell she

wasn't being totally honest.

"I just doesn't seem like something a good parent would do."

Edward pressed further, ignoring Al's soft, "Brother, stop."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Violet squeezed her arm so hard they both saw the bruises, "No. Can we," she cleared her throat, "Can we change the subject, please?"

"Sure," said Edward, taking another small sip of water. He didn't want to press sensitive matters too hard, she'd begin to get suspicious and ask him of his own past. And, even worse he didn't want to see what she was capable of doing to a human body if he truly upset her.

They didn't talk about much else during the duration of the meal.

Violet barely ate a bite herself, she was increasingly nervous and uncomfortable- almost scared. She wrung her wrists and pulled her gloves tighter onto her hands. Alphonse asked her several times if she was okay, Ed didn't seem to care as much, but she only said she was every time anyway. It seemed that Ed was just happy that she had forgotten her original question.

Edward took the last nauseating bite of food she had set out for him and she lead them to the door.

"Would you two like to come for breakfast tomorrow?" she asked them, "You can bring your own food if you prefer."

"We'd like that," Ed said.

They thanked her for the meal and headed back to their hotel without another word. The moment they got inside their hotel room Ed ran into the bathroom and vomited half of the food he'd eaten into the toilet.

Al laughed, "One of the few nights I don't regret not having a body."

Edward pulled his head out of the toilet and wiped his mouth, "Shut up!"

But late that night, he and Violet lay awake in their beds staring up at the ceiling.

Violet, Edward thought.

Edward, Violet thought, he seems nice enough.

She seems nice enough, Ed turned over onto one side, but she's/ he's definitely hiding something.

They brought their own food as she had advised when they came to see early the next morning. Al said he got hungry and ate on his way there and Violet was completely okay with that. She had cleaned up a bit; the table was much easier to find. They said little more as they sat down and started eating.

"So," said Edward suddenly, "what do you like to do for fun?" he asked Violet.

"Huh?" Violet's head seemed to be somewhere else this morning, "Oh, not a lot. I'm kind of a downer."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, there's got to be something you like to do," said Edward.

"Well," she thought for a long moment, "I used to like to draw."

"Why'd you stop?" asked Alphonse.

Violet shrugged, "Life kept getting in the way. There isn't room to do much of anything around here," she said, gesturing to the clutter around them.

Edward ate the last bite of his breakfast set down his fork on his plate, "Well that's all about to change."

Violet seemed startled, "What?"

"I've felt kinda guilty about just coming in and eating your food yesterday. I want to pay you back," said Edward, "so how about me and Al help you clean up the place?"

Violet seemed more than a little hesitant, "Well, but- but you're boys."

"So? I can clean up just as well as you can," Edward glanced around again. But that doesn't say much.

"Well, okay, I guess if you really want-"

Edward shot up, "Great! Let's get started."

Violet's eyes widened with surprise, but then she smiled and got up as well, "Sure."

Ed smirked, It'll give me a chance to look around.

Or at least, so he thought, butViolet really didn't give him a chance to sneak away. Sitting with him in

the room that seemed to the library, forcing him to help her put old books up on the shelves, - well, that wasn't completely accurate. But she asked him to he didn't want to refuse.

"'Alchemy, the search for the philosopher's stone'," Edward read aloud that, and many more titles of the same nature. "Wow," he said, "your dad had a lot of books on the philosopher's stone."

"He was a state alchemist and very bookish, what did you expect him to do all day?" he heard the forced blankness in her tone, "I never really understood it though," she sighed and put the book up on the very bottom shelf, "why on earth would anyone want a philosopher's stone?"

An easy thing to say if you already have one, thought Edward.

Al walked in just then, carrying a big box of books, Violet took it from him and walked to the other side of the library.

"Did you find anything suspicious?" Edward whispered to him.

"I wasn't really looking."

"What?"

"I was actually trying to clean," said Alphonse.

"But the whole reason we're here is to find out if she has a philosopher's stone!"

Al looked over at Violet, taking books out of the box and jumping to try and put them on the higher shelves, "I really don't think she does," he said, "she seems so sweet."

"Show's what you know," grumbled Edward, he looked up at Alphonse, "what about what she said about state alchemists?"

Al was a tad taken aback.

"You really don't think I'm a 'monster', do you?" Ed asked him.

"No!" said Al, "of course not! But that wasn't what she said-"

At that moment they heard Violet's footsteps approaching and were forced to end the conversation there.

She came up to Ed, holding a lamp, "Ed, would you take this upstairs for me?"

"Okay," Edward grabbed the lamp and went upstairs to put the lamp in the attic.

Finally, he thought. He'd gotten his chance to look around, but it was hardly worth the wait. He couldn't find anything suspicious, not even a lukewarm bunson burner.

If she is an alchemist, she hide it very well, but everyone slips up.

There was one thing that he found a bit suspicious, the house's size; under all the clutter, it was huge, far too big for a family with just one child.

After a few moments more he remembered that Violet was still waiting for him back in the library, without the lamp. So he headed up into the attic to put the lamp away.

It was dark and dusty as he fumbled for a light switch because of the clutter. He sighed with relief when he finally found it and switched it on. He then put the lamp up on a table in the corner and started to leave until something caught his eye. A little bed sat in the corner of the room, accompanied by a little dresser and throw rug. This place wasn't just the attic, it was Violet's bedroom.

"Jack pot," said Edward with a smile. He began to dig through drawers and go through her things but all he found was some clothes and stupid little line drawings of nothing.

"Maybe she doesn't have a philosopher's stone after all," he said once he had looked through every drawer and box in the attic, he sighed deeply and plopped down on the bed. That was when the real frustration and anger set in.

"So we came all this way for nothing!" he brought his fist down into the pillow, "And I'm still just as far as ever as ever from keeping my promise to Al."

He lifted his fist again and heard the sound of broken glass moving.

"Huh?" he looked under the pillow, there was a broken picture frame.

Edward picked it up and looked at it closely. The frame had a picture in it, alright, but he couldn't tell of what. He cleared away the bits of broken glass and pulled the picture carefully out. It was of a younger Violet, surrounded by twelve younger boys and two adults he assumed were her parents. When he turned the picture over it confirmed his suspicions.

The Flamels, it was a family portrait.

"No siblings my ass!" he threw down the ladder and stomped down the steps.

When he came into the library Violet was sitting on Al's shoulders as he handed her books to put up on the top shelf.

Normally, Edward would have kept this information quiet, but he'd finally found something on her and he wasn't thinking clearly enough to keep his mouth shut.

"You're a liar!" he shouted at Violet.

Startling Alphonse to the point he dropped her, "What?"

"Ouch," groaned Violet.

"Oh, I'm sorry Violet," he grabbed her arm and helped her up.

"Oh, don't help her," said Edward with a roll of his eyes.

Violet dusted herself off, completely unbothered by his rage, "So," she said, "what took you so long putting up the lamp?"

Her calmness infuriated him, "You said you didn't have any siblings," he said, "if that's true then explain this."

He tossed her the picture; she looked at it and tears came into her eyes.

"How did you find this?"

"Under a pillow in the attic," said Edward with a smile, "explain that if these people don't exist."

"Brother, stop!" said Alphonse, but sadly, he was ignored.

Violet's eyes looked up from the picture and straight at Edward, they were filled past the brim with tears, "You want an explanation?" her voice shook with sorrow, "all my brothers are dead!"

She ran away, leaving Edward feeling like a complete and total ass.

"Nice one, brother," said Al.

Edward's face flushed, "Yeah, yeah, how was I supposed to know?"

"Well, you didn't have to stomp in here like judge and jury! You actually lied to her," said Alphonse.

Edward sighed deeply and went to find Violet. At least she hadn't gone as far as he feared she might have.

He found he found her in the living room, sitting on the corner of the couch, looking at the picture he had tossed at her with daunted eyes.

Edward tapped the door frame with his knuckle to get her attention, when she looked up he smiled nervously, "Hi, Violet," he said gently and stepped into the room, "I came to apologize, I shouldn't have accused you like that-"

"That's okay," she looked at the picture again, "I wasn't upset with you, but looking at this picture," she sighed deeply and closed her eyes, "it brought back a lot of memories I wish I didn't have sometimes."

Edward stepped closer, "Like what happened to your brothers?"

Violet shot him a cross glance and smiled without mirth, "Yeah, memories like those."

"I know I've got no right to pry at this point," began Edward, "but what did happen to them?"

"This country happened to them.-That picture you took...was taken right after my father returned from

the Ishbalen civil war."

"But I thought you said he died-"

"He did, he wasn't the same person when he came home. You see, he was made a state alchemist because of the speed he could draw transmutation circles, but he got injured in battle saving the life of another soldier... It cost him control of his right hand, so he couldn't draw transmutation circles anymore,"-suddenly she leaned back against the couch, chuckling she looked up at him, "So even though he risked his life for this country and gave them his right arm they still planned to fire him. But it was the only income our family had, so he became obsessed with keeping it."

Edward's eyes widened.

"He slowly fell deeper and deeper into depression, desperately going through every option he could think of,-auto-mail prosthetics, but there's no replacing nerve endings,-using his left hand to draw transmutation circles, but it would take him years to get back to his average and he didn't have that kind

of time. So, with time running out and his mind slipping he did the unthinkable... He committed the taboo."

Edward's eyes shot open wider than ever but he feigned confusion, "What taboo?"

Violet sighed deeply, Doesn't this boy know anything about alchemy?

"Human transmutation, on the military lackey that got saddled with giving him his discharge papers. He combined his body with one of my pets to make a chimera and showed it to me the next morning. I knew right then what he'd done but I'm ashamed to say that I was too afraid to speak up, because maybe if I stopped them there he never would have used my brothers."

"He committed human transmutation... o-on his own sons?" said Edward.

Violet shifted on the couch again and stared at her boots, Edward hadn't noticed but they had little blood stains on them.

"Uh-huh," she said, "you'd be surprised what people have the capacity to do when confronted with true desperation."

Edward squeezed his auto-mail arm, Not really.

"How-how did you find out?"

"He got sloppy," said Violet, "he told me he was sending them to boarding school, but that doesn't work when they're only three years old," she swallowed a sob and continued, "when found out the truth

I immediately went to my mom for help, but all she did was drag me out of the house."

"She did what she thought was best, I'm sure of it," said Edward, "if you stayed he would have destroyed you too."

She stared down at her hands again, "I doubt that, and she just expected to leave them, my brothers... my family, trapped in hell. And even though we ran, we didn't get away, he fallowed us, mom said it was because he wanted me. She died a few years ago so I came back here, but the place was empty, all my brothers... were already dead, so I've been alone ever since..."

She curled up in the corner of the couch and rested her head in her knees, weeping gently.

Edward sat down beside her and hugged her.

"W-what's wrong with you?" she asked through her tears, "I thought you'd treat me like the child of demons!"

He hugged her tighter, "Don't ever let anyone call you that. You aren't responsible for the sins of your father."

Violet was shocked for a moment, but then she just leaned her head into his neck and took the safety he'd offered

A tall man with black hair it a old dirty uniform walked through the corridor of a government facility, So far, he thought, things were going off without a hitch, at least, until a young private noticed him.

"Wait," he said, "you aren't wearing a regulation uniform. We haven't worn uniforms like those since the Ishbalen-"

The man tossed the private a pocket watch, "I'm a state alchemist, kid, I'm allowed to wear what I want."

The private looked at the watch in awe, "I'm terribly sorry, major, " he tapped his boots together and saluted, "sir!"

The man gave a dismissive gesture as he walked the past the private, "At ease."

The private lowered his hand and turned the watch over to see the certification number.

01857392- his eyes shot open when he remembered the state alchemist that number belonged to, The Quickdraw Alchemist?

The man was almost completely down the hall when the private said, "Wait, this certification number was canceled nearly three years ago-"

Before he'd even had the chance to finish the thought before the man pulled a gun from his pocket and shot him straight through the skull with a 90 caliber bullet. He blew the smoke off the gun's barrel before walking up to the private, he was on the floor, his head resting in a pool of blood, shaking all over as he struggled to cling to life.

"Damn," he said, "I can't believe I missed," he squeezed his right shoulder, "damn him."

He kneeled down and pushed his gun to the side of the private's head, just above his eyebrow, this time he would fire from point-blank range, "Now," he said, "what were you saying about my state certification?"

The private looked up at him, his teeth clenched in anger and agony, "It's it's expired-"

At that moment he pulled the trigger, blasting the private's brains out. He stood up and tucked the gun away in his pants pocket, "Sorry," he said, "but you're the only thing in this room that's expired."

He picked his certification watch off the floor and walked away.

He broke into the filing room and began to raid the record's of where the state alchemists traveled.

He sit down on the floor with a huge pile of folders, looking through the information before tossing them aside.

"Where are you, Roy?" he mumbled to himself, adjusting his broken glasses, "I still haven't thanked you for what you did to my career. Even without my daughter I can still shoot-"

He did a double take and grabbed one of the files he'd tossed on the ground, his eyes widened as he reread it, "Ryulbury," he whispered. Now why would a state alchemist- he smiled, "Sarah and Violet have finally come home."

He stood up, laughing as he tossed the file aside, "It must be Roy," he said, "if anyone other than me would find them it would be you."

He left the filing room in shambles, he didn't really care if anyone knew he'd came through here. He passed through the hallway where he had murdered the first private, another female private was shaking his dead body.

"Private Jones, can you hear me? Please wake up!" she said tears in her eyes.

He took a step closer, the woman was quick to pull out her gun, "Who are you?"

But then again, he shot straight through her heart without a single miscalculation, killing her instantly,

I want it to be surprise. He went back over to the to the two privates and looked down at them.

"Let this be a lesson to both of you," he said, "this is what happens to soldiers who hesitate."

Edward and Violet went back to see Alphonse; Ed told him the gist of Violet's story and he was just as sympathetic.

"I'm so, so sorry," said Alphonse.

She shrugged her narrow shoulders, "It's alright, all broken hearts heal," she looked away from them, "in one way or another?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Edward.

Violet looked back at him, mazed, "What's what supposed to mean?"

"What you just said," replied Edward.

"I said something?"

"Yeah."

She seemed utterly confused for a moment, but then blew it all over by exhaling deeply and slapping her forehead, "Oh, sorry, space cadet- I just kinda talk without thinking a lot of times, I can't even make sense out of it."

"Okay," said Edward and Alphonse together.

"Anyway," said Edward, "I'm sorry about accusing you of lying about your brothers. That was way off base, I don't know what came over me."

She shrugged again, "Forget about it, no harm done."

Violet sat down on the floor of the library, Ed and Al sat down on either side of her.

"You're incredibly strong to deal with so much death and not crack," said Al.

"Nah," she lent back against a book shelf, "I believe we all go somewhere when we die. I believe there's a heaven, I believe in god."

Edward chuckled wryly.

"What is it?" asked Violet. She stared into him with those with those wounded eyes that had probably seen more than most wound in there nightmares.

If god's what she needs to cope, he thought,- provided she wasn't being crazy about it, I can't bring myself to take that away from her.

Al looked desperately at his big brother, waiting with apprehension for the moment he was going to tear Violet into pieces.

"Nothing," said Edward; but that moment never came.

"And I'm not the only survivor of my ordeal," said Violet with a smile, "I've got a cat, would you like me to introduce you?"

Ed and Al looked at each other, "Uh, sure."

Violet got up and walked away.

The moment she was gone Al turned to Edward, "You didn't tear her apart about believing in god?"

Edward crossed his arms, "What's your point?"

"You really like her, don't you?" said Alphonse.

Edward's face flushed, "She's just a nice girl, that's all."

"You love her."

Edward jumped up, "No, I don't!"

"Yes, you do," said Alphonse calmly.

"Do not!" shouted Edward.

"Do to!"

"Do not!"

"What are you to arguing about?" asked Violet, a little grey winged cat on her shoulders.

"Nothing!" Edward said anxiously.

Al laughed.

Violet seemed confused, but she shrugged it off, "Whatever, this is my cat," she reached behind her and grabbed the cat, placing him gently on the floor in front of them, "his name is Seamus."

"He's got wings?" said Alphonse.

"He's one of my father's earlier prototypes," said Violet, "you can pet him, if you want."

Al reached his hand out to the cat, it rubbed his head and cheeks gently against him, "He's a sweet little

chimera."

"And how did you know that, Alphonse?" asked Violet.

"I-I just read some stuff about them."

"Dido," said Violet with a smile, she reached her hand down to Seamus and he flew back up onto her shoulders, "but he really isn't a chimera, he's just a little cat with wings sewn on," she petted Seamus gently with a finger, "I think he might actually like them."

Edward shifted on the floor, he hadn't said a word since she'd shown them her cat.

"I'm sorry if it's weird."

"No," said Edward, "it's okay."

They avoided telling her that they were alchemists, and even though Edward no longer believed she could have a philosopher's stone, they continued to help her clean until late in the evening. Edward evened suffered through one of her "home cooked meals" when dinner time came. And again, as night fell, Violet lead the two brothers to the door.

"Thanks for helping me clean up," said Violet, "the place hasn't looked this nice in years."

She looked behind her, the place was still what a normal person would call unlivably filthy, but, it was a vast improvement from it's previous state.

"You're welcome," said Al, "sorry about dropping you before."

"That's alright," she smiled and turned to Ed, "and thank you for apologizing to me, Edward, you didn't have to do that."

"It was nothing-"
"No, it really wasn't. I've been called a lot worse things than a liar, by people who wouldn't apologize to me on their death beds, so thanks."

"Then you're welcome," said Edward. He wasn't sure what to do next so he just reached his out to shake her hand. She flinched, but as he began to retract she grabbed him by the wrist, pulled him to her and kissed him gently.

When she pulled away he stared at her.

"I-I'm – I'm-goodnight!" she exclaimed nervously and walked away, Why the hell did I just do that?

Ed just stood in the their, in the doorway and watched her walk away, Why the hell did she do that?

Al just laughed.

"Let's-let's leave," said Edward, clearing his throat.

So he and Alphonse returned to their hotel. Edward went straight into the bathroom once they got their, pulled his hair out of it's usual braid and splashed his face with cold water. Violet's kiss had left him more shaken than he cared to admit.

"Are you okay?" Al asked him.

"I'm fine!" he shouted without thinking.

"You like her," Al said again.

"Shut up."

Edward changed into his night clothes, something he only did when he had a lot on his mind. Al was already resting against the wall when he slipped under the covers of his own bed. Hard as he tried he couldn't keep himself from thinking about Violet, She doesn't make any sense... She's lived such a horrible life, and the only thing that helps her cope is what people use as an excuse to demonize her? How can she believe in god? Even if she isn't an alchemist she was raised by one.

Violet grabbed Seamus and shuffled of to bed, Why did I kiss him? She shouldn't have done that.

She curled up in bed and pulled Seamus to her chest after making sure her gloves were still on securely.
You're getting too close, Violet, you know what happens when you get too close.

Violet rested her head into the pillow, I could never forget, and gently fell asleep.

Violet dreamed that she awoke on the floor, by a bloody transmutation circle.

She looked up and saw her mother mopping the floor, "Mom?" she whispered.

Her mother leaned the mop against the wall and wiped the sweat off her forehead, "I'm sorry," she said,

"I hoped to get this cleaned before you woke up." She started to go over to Violet.

"You were right all along," Violet labored as she turned over onto her side and her mother kneeled beside her, "alchemy is the devil's art."

"NO!"Violet's mother shouted, Then, suddenly, she bowed her head, "Yes it can be used for horrible things but so can any power."

"What?" said Violet gently.

"Everyone protects people in their own way," her mother explained, "using whatever resources they have at their disposal," her voice trembled now, she squeezed her knees hard, staring down at her small daughter with tear filled eyes, "even if those resources come from an unspeakably awful place."

Violet looked up at her mother with concern, "Mom?"

"Oh, Violet," her mother hugged her, "please forgive me..."

"For—what, mom? What did you do?" asked Violet.

Her mother chuckled softly and squeezed the empty finder on her necklace, "Something blasphemous, the ultimate sin..."

Violet's eyes widened, Human transmutation...?

"What-...why?-"

"Shh," said Violet's mother, "and listen to me carefully. Your father wants the-"

But she never finished, for that moment Violet put her arms around her mother and iron skewers shot out of her flesh. Then they spattered into blood, running over the internal puncture wounds, soaking small Violet down to the skin.

"Violet...wh-why would you kill me?" were the last words she ever spoke.

"Mom?" Violet pushed herself up, her mother lay bleeding on the floor, "MOM?"

Violet awoke with a start and sat up quickly. Seamus yowled in protest, she clutched him tightly.

Just a dream, she released Seamus and stared at her glove covered hands. She then covered her face and wept into them, I wish... I wish...

Violet awoke late the fallowing morning and groggily went into the kitchen to start her breakfast.

You should probably try to avoid Ed for a while, she thought to herself sleepily as she cracked two eggs into the toaster, he's bringing up all these old memories and fears, he's doing more harm to you than good, and you can hurt him even worse.

Seamus meowed loudly directly in her face, interrupting her thoughts mercifully, she patted his head, "I'm okay, Seamus, it's just some old ghosts knocking, that's all." at that moment there was a knock at the door, Seamus jumped into her arms, "I'll be there in a minute!"

Seamus climbed up onto her shoulders as she went to answer the door. Besides, she thought, her mind sliding back to Edward once again, I don't know anything about him anyway.

She threw open the door, there stood Edward with a small awkward smile on his lips.

"Wanna, I don't know..." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "..show me around town?"

Edward did a mental face-palm when he realized what that question entailed. Show him around town? There was nothing here! She was going to see fight through him. She-

-answered without thinking, "Sure." it was her turn to do a mental face-palm, Crap.

Ed smiled, "Great,"he glanced behind her and saw smoke, "is-is something burning?"

Violet's eyes widened, "The toaster!"

A few moments later they walked through town together, Violet across an old stone wall, Ed beside her on the ground.

"You tried to cook eggs in the toaster?" Edward laughed, "When did that seem like a good idea?"

"Shut up," said Violet with a smile, "so I wasn't put on this earth to cook, so what."

"Ah, I'll be you breakfast, how's that sound?" said Edward.

Violet stretched her arms up, arching her back, "Don't trouble yourself on my behalf, I don't like eating much anyway."

"Ever think that may have something to do with the food you cook?" remarked Edward.

Violet didn't even seem to register the words as an insult, "Nah, I don't eat much regardless of who's cooking. My mom was great cook, and I didn't even eat that much when she was..." her words drifted into the thin air of the north wind as it blew through the strands of her raven hair, she wasn't walking anymore as the wind caught her open coat as it did Edwards, neither one said the final period.

Gold eyes met pale violet as he looked up at her with pity.

She blew the whole thing off with an unusual sigh, "Anyway," she said with a thin smile, "how about that tour?" she bound off then, shouting, "Come on!" after Edward.

He smiled and ran after her, "Wait up!"

Violet only stopped when they arrived at a block with a past church surrounded by other unrecognizable uninhabited buildings.

"I don't understand why you brought me here," said Edward, "there isn't anything worth looking at."

Violet grinned knowingly and stepped into an abandoned lot filled with debris from the crumbled buildings that surrounded it, Edward dubiously fallowed her.

"Watch out for bear traps," Violet said as an after thought."

Be-bear traps? Thought Edward, slowly and carefully going through the debris. Watching his feet with every step he made. When he caught up with Violet in the far corner of the lot she was sitting on a bit of debris, smiling down at an ugly little weed growing through the cracks in the pavement.

"You brought me here to look at a weed?" Ed grumbled, looking down at the plant with scorn.

Violet's smile widened, "Your focusing too much on what you can see," she said, pulling a single small leaf of the top of the stalk with extreme care, "close your eyes."

Edward hesitantly obeyed.

She held the leaf just below his nose, "Now smell."

Edward took a deep breath through his nose, "Mmm," he opened his eyes with a smile, "that smells wonderful."

Violet giggled softly, "Uh-huh, you'll find that appearances rarely reveal the whole truth." she looked back down at the plant almost lovingly, "The Ryin flower isn't the prettiest and yet it one of the most fragrant plants in the world, a lot of things are like that... All someone has to do to see the truth is look beyond the surface..."

Edward studied the severed leaf carefully, "But how can this grow here? It's so cold."

Violet stood up and pointed, "Do you see that factory?"

Edward nodded.

Violet placed her hands on either side of a huge chunk of debris and pushed hard, it didn't budge. She sighed and moved around to push it with her back, lifting slightly with her knees. Her legs were wobbling and the vein in her forehead was visible.

"Uh, Violet, do you need some help?" asked Edward, at that moment, she pushed it aside, causing a chain reaction of piping to fall.

With a satisfied sigh and a pat of her gloves she looked from the newly exposed vent to Edward, "This is one of the exhaust pipes for it, hot soot comes out of it twenty-four seven, making this area the warmest in town," she pulled some soot straight from the pipe, it was even warm through her thick gloves and sprinkled it gently around the plant, "and sooty dirt is great for plants."

"That's amazing," said Edward with a smile.

Violet chuckled softly, "That's the one thing I've always loved most about this world. Beautiful things can come from anywhere," she looked up at the factory, "even the most unspeakably horrible places."

She hopped back over the debris swiftly, Edward clumsily after her, and into the gravel road.

"Hey, so what's the deal with that factory anyway?" he asked her.

"Hmm?" she turned to him, "Oh, that. What do you mean?"

"Well, towns usually have mayors or stuff to approve that stuff. What possessed your mayor to approve that?" he gestured to the factory.

"It's sort of a long story..."

Edward shoved his hands into his pockets, "I've got time."

"Ryulbury wasn't always like this," she closed her eyes, the images clearing in her mind, "childrens' laughter used to be heard everywhere, all the shops were open... This place used to be called Christ's Haven, people came here seeking freedom from religious persecution, it was a beautiful and cozy little place," her eyes opened, "but they were poor and short sighted, so when a big company wanted to come in, promising prosperity no one questioned it... It brought jobs for only about a month until the military took over. They said they needed weapons made for the war against Drachma. I don't believe that.

Their paranoid leader classified everything so civilians weren't even allowed inside even more. Suddenly all the factory jobs were gone and all that was left was a big building spewing lead into the air until even new fallen snow was black. No one came here anymore so all the businesses closed, and then the school, until only the church remained..." she turned from him suddenly staring off into the thin air, "and when something hurts that much humans look for something to blame..."

"And state alchemists make a good scapegoat, don't they?" said Edward with a wry smile.

"Yeah, the church started playing that game early on, until the word of god became bitter, and because of the change in it's people and the very ground beneath it Christ's Haven has become what they call it now," she gave a little smile, "Christ's slum- OUCH!" she shouted because at the end of her statement a rock hit the back of her head. It skidded off as she fell to the ground.

Edward ran over to her, "Holy crap, are you alright?" he asked her.

She stood up slowly and shakily, clutching the back of her head, "I'm alright." She pulled her hand away and there was blood on it.

Ed's eyes widened, "No, no your not. We need to get you to a hospital," he tried to grab her but she shook her head.

"There's none around," she said, "It's just a flesh wound. I'll just rub some snow into it and it'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I've had a lot worse, trust me," said Violet, she picked up the bloody cement off the ground and tucked it into her coat pocket.

Edward looked in the direction the rock had been thrown from, "What the hell is wrong with these people? That rock could have killed you!"

Violet sighed, "Don't blame them, it's not their fault-"

"To hell it isn't!" exclaimed Edward, "People have to take responsibility for their own actions."

Violet sighed and started walking again, fiddling with her little cross pendant and empty finder she had tucked away under her shirt, "I guess..."

It took Edward a moment to realize she had walked away, "Hey, wait up!" he exclaimed, running until he was walking beside her. He noticed her necklace. "I don't understand you."

She looked at him, "What do you mean?"

"Well..." Edward scratched his head, "How can you be raised here- by an alchemist, and still believe in god?"

Her answer was incredibly simple, but to her, it was an obvious question, "Why not?"

So simple, in fact, that it took Edward aback, for he was expecting something much more complex, "The- the church hates you! People use god as an excuse to throw rocks at you!"

Violet rested her hands on the back of her neck, "Human will always look for something to justify their hate, just as light can come from darkness, darkness can come from light. Alchemists treat people who believe in god like fools."
"A fool is better than a devil," remarked Edward with a derisive snort.

"How about a brainwashed, homicidal, deluded retard?" asked Violet wryly.

"No one would call-"

"I was called that, by my father for believing in god despite what I'd been told. He said the definition of a retard was who could be taught the same lesson a thousand times and never learn it. The church taught me that god hated me every day, so I was a retard for not learning it," she stopped walking and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry-" began Edward.

"Ah," she shrugged with a smile, "the only thing I don't understand is that if were all going to hell anyway why can't they try and get along with us while were on earth?"

Edward laughed, "You're a strange girl, Violet, I've never met someone like you before."

"I'll choose to believe that was a complement.." There was an awkward pause, "By the way, you never answered my question before... Why me?"

Edward scratched his neck, "Uhh, the truth?"

Before Edward had a chance to spill his guts out, a bullet was fired at him. Violet was quick to pull him out of the way the moment she'd heard the initial click.

"Bullets?" exclaimed Edward, "how badly do these people want you dead?"

Violet scanned around for the source of the shot, holding Edward protectively behind her. She saw something horrible.

Her father stepped over the debris of fallen buildings, his disheveled black hair covering the more broken side of his glasses. He was still in his uniform from the Ishbalen civil war, as charred and stained as it might be. To Violet, it was like a nightmare.

"Hello, Violet, it's been a long time," he said smoothly.

"D—dad?" Violet stumbled backwards as he stepped closer.

Sensing her fear, Edward stepped out in front of her, "Leave the girl alone!"

Without a second of hesitation, Violet's father grabbed Edward and put his gun to his head, grinning he looked at Violet, "Who's your little friend?"

"He-he's no one!"

As Violet and her father talked Edward thought quickly. Violet's father had his arms locked to his sides.

So, he thought, I'll have to improvise. He bit Violet's father's arm hard, the second he loosed his grip enough for him to get his arms free he pressed his hands together and clapped them to the gun barrel, transmutating it into a twisted trumpet. It was not not a second to soon, for as he did that Violet's father pulled the trigger and the bullet got trapped in the chamber, making the blast of the gunpowder concentrated. As he dropped the gun in shock, Edward ripped away and transmutated a spear out of some of the rubble.

For a moment, Violet's father seemed startled, but then, he laughed, "So your the state alchemist I presume."

"What's the matter?" Ed asked with a smug smile, "You sound disappointed."

He was still laughing, "No, no," he said breathlessly, "I was just expecting someone taller."

Edward's eyes widened, livid with anger he attacked him.

"Uh-uh," he wagged his finger before pressing his palms together, then to the road. Giant iron spikes shot out all around Ed, he nimbly avoided.

Violet stood on the side lines, to afraid to move or speak, her hands trembling. Edward's a state-

"Your going to have to better than that!" Edward shouted suddenly, his body going into it's pumped, adrenaline filled state it always did when he was in a fight. He barreled around more of Violet's father's spikes whilst charging at him with his spear, until instantly, his right arm locked up.

What the hell...? thought Edward.

Violet's father grabbed him by his throat, his spear dropped to the ground. Ed attempted a kick, but he squeezed his throat so hard the pain coursing through him was enough to defeat the attempt.

"Attack me one more time, kid, and I'll break your neck," he said to him with a vicious look in his eyes. Then he turned to his daughter, "Now, dear, your mother took something very important form me, the philosopher's stone, what did she do to it?" he squeezed Ed's neck again, he cried out in pain.

"I don't know what your talking about!" Violet cried desperately.

"Liar! Where is it?" he squeezed Ed's neck harder than before.

He screamed, then lowered his voice, hoping to mask the trembling, "You filthy bastard."

"You know you aren't much an alchemist and if your little friend here tries to move," he glanced at Edward, squeezing his throat so hard he nearly bled, "I'll snap his neck like a twig, but you can save him if you want, just tell me where the philosopher's stone is," he squeezed Ed's neck again.

"Stop it, you'll kill him!" screamed Violet.

"Just tell me what I want to know."

Violet looked at Edward, choking and was overcome by emotion. Before she had a moment to second guess herself, she threw her gloves off and pressed her hands together, "Let him go!" She pressed her hands to the gravel, the light from her palms shot like a lightning bolt to the patch of dirt between her father and where he pinned Ed. It expanded and the side by her father burst, propelling him backward, shredding the front of his uniform and throwing his glasses off.

He landed at Violet's feet, she looked down at him with an expression that bore no anger, fear or hate, only pity. She then stepped over him and went to Ed.

"Are you alright?"

He nodded gently and stood up, rubbing his throat with his working hand, "I think so."

Nicolas Flamel, the quickdraw alchemist, lay on the ground, thinking of the way his daughter, his little girl looked at him. My daughter, the retarded child I raised, looking down on me... he looked at Edward, What did that little bastard tell her? How I really lost my arm? And with that thought all the anger and hatred he felt bubbled to the surface.

"Damn you you little military bastard!" he lunged at Edward, "I'll kill you!"

Violet was just pulling on her glove during her father's attack. Out of pure instinct she grabbed his bare arm-with the hand she had not yet finished pulling her glove onto. Only a single centimeter of her palm was exposed, but that was enough.

Violet's eyes widened in horror when she saw the transmutation light, No, what have I done?

All the blood in her father's body transmutated into iron, expanding until it burst out of his skin like spikes, then exploded back to blood. As she let the grotesquely maimed body fall to the ground she collapsed to her own knees and wept, "This doesn't even make any sense! Why? Why does this always happen?"

Edward reached his hand to put it on her shoulder. She jerked away before he had the chance.

"Don't touch me! Don't ever touch me!" she shouted at him, jerking her glove on.

"I'm sorry-" said Edward.

Violet blinked, then shook her head, "It's not your fault," she wrung her hands and looked at Edward, smiling wryly, "I've got a lot to tell you."

"So do I. A lot to tell you, I mean," Edward bowed his head.

"So get Al and meet at the house in a half an hour," said Violet.

"A-and leave you all alone with the body? What if someone sees you?" said Edward.

"No one comes into this part of town."

"Oh?" questioned Edward, "What about that jerk who threw a rock at you?"

Violet scratched behind her ear, "Yeah, well, if my father's here I don't think they'll be talking about it."

Edward's eyes widened, he ran off to get Alphonse.

Violet looked upon her dead father's face.

She was right about the person who had thrown the rock though. They wouldn't be talking about it, now or ever. The truly sad thing was, the rock wasn't even intended for her, but rather for Edward. For the lady who threw it was a young Vanessa Hawkins. Who had become the priest's assistant to escape her abusive father, only to be abused again. She had long forgotten that original name, she was number 3 in her deathbed, a truly sad thing. She lay between two buildings, hair drenched in blood and a bullet hole in the side of her head. Her eyes wide open but lifeless, another chunk of rubble in her right hand.

Violet ran straight home and took the sheet from her bed and ran back. She laid the sheet on the ground and dragged the mangled body onto it, folding the sides over to cover him. Another girl would have had major issue with this morbid task, but it was in her blood to be able to deal with this. Without a word she lifted the bloody bundle and carried it back to her yard, struggling not to slip on the ice. Finally, she laid it down on the burn pile, throwing wood scraps from the yard on top, breaking larger pieces of wood on her knee.

When she'd piled it so high that the fabric covering the body could no longer be seen she dowsed the whole thing with gasoline. Then pulled a small box of matches from her pocket and lit one.

She pressed her hands together and said a little prayer for the lost soul, and tossed it on the pile. It went up instantly. She watched, the flames glistening in her pupils. Let's hope this is the last time I ever have to do this...