Minor chinks and clanks echoed throughout the mess hall. Military alchemists and non-military alchemists interwove with each other at each table. Various conversations bounced around: some involving alchemic theory, others discussing research advancements, and some about everyday life. However, Ed noticed that two alchemists were sitting quietly across from each other, away from the mass population of individuals, and enjoying their meal.

"How the hell?!" Ed thought as he approached the pair with his tray in hand. "How did you two beat Armstrong and I?"

Silver eyes darted towards the disturbance of the peace "Maybe it's because this isn't our first time here. Not to mention that you dragged Armstrong towards the firing range, which is approximately a ten-minute walk from the combat arena and about fifteen-minute walk to the mess hall. So, that means we had twenty-five-peaceful-minutes without you."

"You're just fucking sunshine and daisies," muttered Ed as he sat down a good space away from the female alchemists.

"Well, to be fair," bit back Quicksilver, "It would take most individuals anywhere from fifteen to twenty-minutes to walk from the firing range to here, but then again their gaits are larger compared to yours." She took a sip of her beverage and coughed slightly afterwards.

Ed heard something under the cough. "Did you just insinuate I was short because I don't think a short person can do this!" He clapped and tried to touch the bench beneath Quicksilver in order to spring her out of the mess hall by force. However, nothing happened when he touched the metal bench. "What?" Ed looked closer at the bench and realized it wasn't metal anymore, but something out of carbon. "What the hell? How?!"

"You're too slow," smirked the female alchemist. She lifted her right hand, the furthest from Ed and out of his view, from the bench beside her. Setting the mug down from her left hand she touched the bench between her and Ed and transmuted it back to metal, steel, before picking up her fork and resumed consuming her salad.

"You shouldn't have been able to do that! It goes against the laws of equivalent exchange: changing something that is not of equal value."

Mustang smirked at the statement and snorted under his breath. "For a genius at alchemy, you can be incredibly dense and idiotic." A clothed gloved hand waved around the air besides the owner's head, "There's all types of molecules in the air, so with some manipulation you can do anything with said molecules. For example, like removing carbon molecules from the air and coating the surface of something, like metal, to prevent - in this case - an alchemic reaction. Honestly, it's a very simple transmutation due to the use of CO2."

"Whatever," muttered Ed, who wasn't impressed that he was outfoxed by his superior, again, and one of his friends. Eyes watched the Major General eat her lunch slowly, but, most of all, he watched her hands because he wanted to see the type of transmutation circle she was using. Ignoring the conversation between Mustang and her he noted that her palms were blank. Confused, he leaned back on the bench and looked to see if there was a transmutation circle somewhere on the bench.

"You know," a condensing voice started, "That you could always ask instead of looking like an idiot to see how she transmutes, but then again it would be embarrassing to ask when you're supposedly a genius at alchemy." Slanted dark eyes gazed lazily, yet held some fire to them, at the younger. "Or are you selling your talent and skills short?"

Ed bristled at the obvious short joke, but before he could say anything Foxtrot spoke up. "Let me guess, you were looking at my palms to see if I tattooed my transmutation circles onto my hands like some alchemists do, like Comanche or Kimblee? And, you looked to see if I had quickly drawn or etched a transmutation circle onto the surface itself." Silver turned to face gold, smirk spreading wide. "I may be fast, but I'm not that fast. Not to mention drawing a transmutation circle like that means that the reaction has to stay where the circle is. I am also not a seer, nor a huge fan of pain." As is to emphasize her point, Foxtrot examined her nails artistically. This gave Ed a full view of blank, yet scarred, hands; long, slim fingers were adorned with various rings. "Palm or hand tattoos need to be constantly touched up or else the circle will break down due to our body's simple nature of shedding skin."

The younger took in all the information that was just given to him. "Then how do you transmute, unless . . ." Ed though about how he could transmute and wonder if this alchemist, a genius like him, had done the greatest taboo of any alchemist. "Did you-"

"You really are dense, aren't you?" Mackenzie looked at Mustang. "He's definitely selling himself short." The Colonel just sat there with his arms crossed against his chest, but an audible hum of agreement was made.

"HEY!" Ed's attitude changed within milliseconds of hearing that. Before Ed could comment or threaten a tanned hand was thrust into his face. "What?" His eyes observed the long fingers as they wiggled, then abruptly halted revealing the cool metal that adorned various fingers: there were four rings on just the left hand lone. However, it wasn't the number of rings that caught his attention, it was what was etched into them. Each ring had symbols indenting the exterior of the ring. "That's," Ed was in awe, "Amazing! Ingenious!" He looked at the older alchemist and motioned to her outstretched hand, "May I?"

Foxtrot nodded, while taking up her beverage into her right hand. Ed caught the gleam of metal adorning those fingers. Turing his attention back to the left hand, he took it carefully into his own and looked at the symbols. Each symbol was incredibly detailed, which was impressive due to the sheer width of some of the bands. He noted that some bands had more than one alchemic symbol on them, which he realized that the alchemist before him was capable of doing multiple types of alchemy and to do multiple at one time.

"I'm going to guess that you like what you're seeing."

Gold looked up and noticed that the Major General wasn't looking at him but was staring at her tray. "This is amazing! The detail in the circles on something so small is incredibly, as well the potential for you to do any type of alchemy at one time." He looked back at the rings. "How many of these do you have? You're specialty?"

Index finger to Quicksilver's right hand traced the rim of the mug that sat in front of it's owner. "In all, I have eight rings. Each ring has at the very least two transmutation circles on them; two have three." Heavily lashed eyelids lowered, as the alchemist's voiced lowered and became laced with regret. "Most I can manipulate all the elements, but it was the fact that I do possess a wide arrange of bio-alchemy that I was able t-"

"Simply put, Ed, M.J is extremely adaptable with her alchemy to the point that she is a very worthy opponent in a spar," interrupted Mustang. He was looking at the Quicksilver Alchemist for a few seconds before he stood and grabbed his and Mackenzie's tray. "I'll be back."

"Have you seen enough?" Foxtrot pulled her hand away and finished her beverage. "Coffee is great for the soul," she mused.

Grabbing his fork, Ed stabbed the main entrée to his meal: steak. "Why did that Colonel Bastard call you M.J?"

"Just a nickname that he's called me since Ishval."

Ed sliced his steak roughly and ate quickly. The alchemist next to him winced, but the look went away when a mug settled in front of her. "You look like you needed another cup, Major General," purred Roy. This caused Ed to choke slightly. "Caffeinated with four sugars and cream, like always."

"Thanks, Colonel," M.J traded out the old mug for the new and held it cupped between her hands.

"You're welcome," smiled Mustang as he seated himself on the bench across from the other alchemists.

The steam rose slowly, curling around the alchemist's face. Ed gazed over and noticed the slight scars that decorated her face, but as he looked at her exposed flesh he noticed more scars. Granted, the scars were barely visible, but upon closer observation they were highly noticeable; the most noticeable where the ones that encased both of her wrists. As he chewed, he thought about what he had seen from the alchemist so far: alchemic based rings, scars, an odd diet. Eyes looked over the Major General's body from what he could see: form fitting black tank-top, combat-looking pants, and combat boots. For the first time he realized she had multiple piercings on the lobe, kind of like Winry, and a silver necklace that stayed close to her collarbone; all forms of her jewelry were silver, but a few of her rings. Next, he noticed that her hair was held up in ponytail that held up in high but draped loosely to just a little past the small of her back. The ends of her hair the same shade as Ed made him wonder.

"Major General," started Ed, "May I ask why your hair is like that? The colors I mean."

This made Mustang raise a questioning eyebrow. "It's happened ever since my hair grew past my chin when I little, so it's natural for me. The gold at the end never lightens anymore, while the roots are always black. I'm sure it has to do with my mixed heritage." She paused and took a long sip of her coffee and smiled at the taste. "My mother's family can be traced back to Xing and has remained relatively untainted by any other blood to our knowledge. On the other hand, my father's family heritage is very mixed from the Amestrian and Cretan. However, it's through my father that I possess some traits that were believed to come from Xerxes. So, my overall appearance and majority of my coloration comes from the Xingese in my blood, while some of the Xerxian and Amestrian blood shines through to show my mixed heritage. Primarily, the golden color is Xerxian and the grey eyes are Amestrian, while my skin is a mix between Amestrian and Cretan. At least, according to my parents."

All that information calculated through Ed's head as he put things together. "Xerxes? But how?!"

"I don't know if that's true, but it is something that has been passed on from generation to generation," shrugged the female alchemist.

"You said your eyes are Xingese?" Ed watched as Quicksilver nodded before looking at his commanding officer.

"Well the shape is-"

"So, does that mean you're Xingese?" The younger cut off the female alchemist and looked at his superior.

Roy smiled and snorted slightly. "So, you can observe your surrounding and put new knowledge to use." Mustang looked at Ed so the younger could see his eyes better. "The answer is yes. My mother was mix between Aerugonian and Xingese on one side of her family, while my father was Amestrian. The blood of my mother's ancestors from Xing ran strong in me."

"My mother is from Aerugo and she's currently living there too."

"I see," whispered Ed. His mind racing at the thought that two of military's most decorated alchemists were of mixed heritage, and the one passionately pursing to become fuhrer. Ed, feeling odd for staring at Roy's eyes, looked down and noticed for the first time that he wasn't dressed in his typically military gear. "That's so weird: not seeing you in military or to-the-nines attire."

It was true. The only times Ed had seen his commanding officer not in military dress was when he was off-duty and dressed in three-piece suits with complimenting coat, gloves, scarf, and tie. But to see the Colonel dressed in military academy slacks, combat boots, and black short sleeved undershirt that showed off a body that Ed would never have thought the lazy bastard could possess; every muscle in Mustang's upper body was shown off, from abs to built biceps and triceps.

"To be honest, the pants and boots are military issued."

"Same as mine," chimed in Foxtrot.

"You two are such smart-asses!"