Chapter 2

The Fullmetal Alchemist

As Elana rose from her feet, she looked around. There was no one in sight. No people, no hijackers, not even that strange red coated boy or the suit of armor was anywhere to be found. The only thing that caught her eye was a giant hole on the side of the train. Strange, she thought. I know that wasn't there before. She slowly took a few steps toward the hole on the train. An abundance of pine trees and hills of green were the only things that could be seen. Although the train was still moving and Elana could feel a brisk, crisp breeze blowing through the hole, she felt like time had been frozen for a long time. As Elana turned around, she noticed something sparkling in the sunlight peering through the windows on the train. She walked closer to get a better look: it was a pocket-watch. A pocket-watch that seemed to have a familiar engraving of a lion on it. She picked its chain and watched it slowly spin around, sparkling in the sunlight. As she delicately slide her fingers across the engrave, her eye took notice of a small button that could open the watch. Elana attempted to open it, but it wouldn't open for some reason. Elana looked closer at the watch. It seemed that the button had been melted along with the opening. Nothing a little alchemy can't do. She clasped her hands over the watch, and with a bright flash of light, the metal was no longer fused and was able to be opened.

Just then a creaking noise was heard of the car. A voice was heard from the other side. "Damn it," the voice muttered. Elana's eyes darted the door: someone was coming in, and he didn't sound like he was there to help. She had no choice but to drop the pocket watch and hide. Fast. She darted for the seats behind her where an emergency exit was and held her breath. She was more scared in her life than ever before. What do I do? she wondered, thoughts rushing through her mind. Who is it? Is he here to help? What if he finds me? What if he kills me? WHAT THE HELL DO I DO? She didn't know. All she could hear was the sound of footsteps coming near her. Elana panicked. She had to do something. But if she used her alchemy, the man would notice, and who knows what would happen next? The footsteps became louder as they crept toward Elana. Her heart was beating out of her chest. Her breathing became painful and strained. Her palms were covered in her sweat as she drew them close to clap. She didn't have a choice. It was either protect yourself, or die without even a chance. She clapped and a beam of light appeared in front of her. She touched a piece of iron of the emergency exit door as it turned into a sharp staff. She turn around and pressed the sharp point of the staff on the person's cheek. It barely pierced him, but the point was deep enough to cause some blood to drip. Elana got to look at the man's face, but it wasn't a man. It was the boy from earlier, but he looked a little different because of his blood-stain cheek. Elana lowered the staff, but she didn't lower her guard... yet.

"What are you doing here?" Elana asked the boy. She looked at the boy's hand. He was holding the watch. "Are you stealing?!" she shouted. But he rushed to her and clasped her mouth with his right hand. Her lips then felt cold to the touch. Elana struggled to talk, but his grip was too strong. Time for plan B, she thought. She opened her mouth wide and bit down hard. But something shocked her. As she bit, she felt something hard. It was like this boy didn't have a single piece of flesh in his hand. Like it was made of metal. She bit it so hard, it felt like some of her teeth chipped off. The pain was so bad, she felt like crying. In fact, a single tear fell from her eye.

"Yeah," the boy whispered in her ear. "That's not gonna work, that is, unless you want your teeth to break off..." Elana couldn't believe what was going on. Just who is this guy? she wondered. Just then, the door became busted down. Elana wanted to scream, but she couldn't. The pain in her mouth was too unbearable. In front of her was the suit of armor that she saw earlier. Under its arms was a pair of hijackers, unconscious.

"Damn it, Alphonse." the boy said, letting go of Elana, who then clasped her own mouth to ease the pain. "Could you be any louder?"

"Well, sorry, Ed," Alphonse apologized, dropping the crooks. "But these guys were heading for your car, so I had to do something." His head to Elana, who held her mouth in pain, crying. "Brother..."

"Yeah?" Edward asked.

"Did you hold her mouth?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Did she bite?"

"Uh-huh."

"Left or right?"

"Right." Suddenly, Al smacked Ed on the back of the head.

"OW! What the hell was that for, Al?!" Ed burst out.

"If you knew she was gonna bite," Al explained. " then use your left hand!" He bent over to Elana. He handed her a bottle. Elana opened it and drink the sweet, sugary liquid that was inside. Almost instantly, her mouth had healed from the aching and throbbing that Plan B gave her. She was finally able to speak again.

"Thank you." she spoke. "What did I drink anyways?"

"Medicine." Al responded. "By the way, sorry about my brother. He gets a little mad at times." Elana looked at Edward, but he just turned his head, like he was pissed off. Elana stood on her feet and walked toward to Edward. She looked at him long enough for him to turn his head and look at her. At this rate, he flustered. But a single voice broke the silence.

"Brother. Did you get your watch?" Al asked.

"Oh, yeah!" Edward remembered. He held up his watch. The same watch that Elana thought that he was going to steal. Elana was confused. Why would a boy like him have a watch like that?

"Damn," Ed added, "The military would kick my ass if I lost this thing!" Something clicked inside Elana's head. The military! she thought. He's part of the military! At least to her, it explained the familiar engrave on the watch. But why would a kid like him be part of the military?

"Wait." Edward studied his watch. He noticed that the watch had no longer been fused shut. He was able to open the watch.

"What is it?" Al looked at him, curious.

""The watch," Ed said, running his fingers along the edge of the watch. "It's opened."

"What?" Al was shocked. "How could that happen!?"

"That's what I'm wondering! I mean- C'mon! Alchemy is probably the only way to-" But Ed paused. He and Al slowly turned their heads at Elana, who exchanged a nervous smile.

"Why are you guys looking at me?" Elana said with her nervous smile still on her face.

"You're an alchemist?" Ed and Al asked at the same time.

"Yeah..." Elana shrugged her shoulders. Ed and Al just stared at her for a full minute before yelling, "YOU'RE AN ALCHEMIST?!"

"Yeah! What do you expect?! I bake cookies or something?"

"Yes." Edward said, sarcastictly. Elana Sighed. It's not like she could change their opinions, anyway. Suddenly a voice came over the speakers.

ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS. WE WILL