Fun With Alchemy

"Just a few more steps, we're almost there."

"Where are you taking me Sciezska? It feels like we're in the basement."

It was Riza and Sciezska's six month anniversary. Sciezska knew that Riza had bought her something; she could see it everywhere she went. The secretive look in her eyes, the unexplained tardiness, and the way she jumped every time Sciezska walked into a room. Sciezska knew in her heart Riza had bought her something she'd love and she didn't want to disappoint. Finally she realized that for are gift to be heartfelt, it had to come from the heart. So here they were: Riza, blindfolded, was being lead into a disused supply basement, where she could receive her surprise gift.

"Can I take the blindfold off now?"

"Yes; open your eyes, I've got a surprise for you."

"Like this wasn't a big enough surprise?" Riza joked as she removed the cotton handkerchief which was obscuring her vision. Immediately in front of her, after her eyes had adjusted to the low light of the basement, Riza saw a small wooden chair.

"Sit down." whispered a voice from behind her, which she obeyed. As she turned around and settled into the chair, Sciezska came into view. Riza knew that Sciezska was planning on giving her a gift today, but she had no idea why Sciezska was standing behind a pillow and a blanket. Riza's instincts told her something was awry, but she sat still, intrigued by what Sciezska had in mind.

"Riza?" Sciezska asked, standing tall.

"Yes?"

"Are you aware that today marks six months since we first kissed?"

"Yes; I can still taste you on my lips." Riza joked, which made Sciezska giggle.

"It's jokes like that which made me love you in the first place."

"Really? I though you just liked my body."

"That too, I suppose. Everything about you made me fall in love with you."

"Same to you."

"Thank you. Anyway, it's because I love you that I decided to give you a gift; and as we all know, the best gifts are made by hand, which is why I've brought you here."

"What is it that's here, exactly?"

"Look around."

"I see a pillow and a pile of blankets."

"Look closer."

Riza narrowed her eyes, trying to pierce the darkness. Then she saw it. She was amazed that she didn't recognize it straight away. Against the hard concrete floor of the basement, a hard line of white chalk was clearly visible. With her eyes, Riza followed the line around until she came to the realization that it met itself. It was a circle. Not just any circle, it was one of those circles that Roy, Ed and all the other alchemists use.

"A transmutation circle." she breathed.

"Exactly." Sciezska said, a smile crossing her face.

"But you don't know anything about alchemy…"

"To the contrary; I've been practicing. I'm getting pretty good, and I'd like to use my new skill to make something for you."

"Oh Sciezska, that's so romantic."

"shhh…" Sciezska said as she positioned herself on the edge of the circle, "I require absolute concentration; your heavenly voice is bound to distract me."

Sciezska knelt down and lightly touched the white line in front of her. As her fingers graced the fine powder, she felt a great energy surge from deep within her. Almost instantly, she could feel the every object within the circle down to the atom. In her mind's eye, she could see, see, the difference between each element. From the carbon in the concrete to the sodium in the chalk, Sciezska now saw the dank, silent basement alive with colour and movement. Moreover, she could see the bonds that link each atom with another as tiny golden bands, malleable bits of string for her to craft to her whim. Summoning all of her energy, she took a deep breath, clapped her palms together, and pressed them to the floor.

It was then that Riza saw it; Sciezska was inside the transmutation circle. She's going to be used in the transmutation. Riza thought with her eyes widening in horror.

"Sciezska, stop!" she cried as she leapt from the chair, her body slamming into Sciezska's moments after a brilliant light erupted from the circle. For Riza, everything happened in slow motion. As she saw the light engulf her surroundings, all the colour drained from her face. By the time she had tackled Sciezska, her look turned to mortification; light had consumed her body, as well as Sciezska's!

In a heartbeat, many things happened. Foremost, the pillow was stretched and flattened to create a soft yet sturdy, futon like, mattress. Both girls' clothing was engulfed in the blue sheen as Riza toppled Sciezska. The grey blanket was thrust into the air as the pairs' clothing rematerialized at the far edge of the circle. All, the while Sciezska was stumbling, eventually falling onto the rectangular mattress with Riza on top of her. Riza was taking short shallow breaths, she thought she was going to die; only when the bed sheet settled over her naked body did she open her eyes.

"What is this?" she asked, locking eyes with Sciezska.

"My gift to you." the other girl replied sweetly.

"Which is…"

"Me. Everything about me. My love, my body, my home-"

"- your home? Sciezska, are you asking me to move in with you?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so."

"Oh Sciezska!" Riza said as she forced her lips on to her lover's, "you've made me so happy. I love you so much! It makes me sad thinking how all I got you was a stupid-"

"Shhhhh…" Sciezska motioned as she raised a finger to the blonde's lips. With a slight smile, she reached her arms onto Riza's bare back; feeling the texture of her skin change as her fingers brushed over her tattoo. Suddenly, Riza felt herself pulled so close that she could feel the intelligence officer's body beneath her. She tried to pull away but Sciezska just tightened her grip. With a firey look in her eyes and a sly smile she said, "Hey, where are you going? Don't you have a job to do?"