Finding Home: Chapter 7

Sam met Roy Mustang in the Central Library on the alchemy floor. Roy had requested that she be allowed to enter for her training and the brigadier general had agreed to it. He found no harm in some alchemic training.

"I'm not sure what I should teach you, seeing as you know a lot about alchemy already," said Mustang to Sam. "I've seen your alchemy without circles. It's impressive work."

"Thank you," said Sam.

"I've seen your medicinal alchemy, but I haven't seen your air alchemy. Will you demonstrate?" asked Roy.

"Yeah, sure."

Clap! Air swirled together in front of Sam's hands and then it exploded, sending out a gust of wind that knocked over a bookshelf and nearly knocked over Roy.

"There may be a State Alchemist in you yet," said Roy, smiling. "If you can pass the written exam I am sure you will make it into the alchemy program."

Sam smiled. "I've had years of practice and wonderful teachers."

"I don't know what to show you," said Roy, "you are already very skilled. Perhaps you should read up on medicinal alchemy. You didn't seem to know much about it when you performed it on Riza."

"I didn't," said Sam. "I have only been practicing medicinal alchemy for a year now, but I seem to be better at that than air alchemy. I guess it's more of my thing." Sam paused. "My mother began to teach me medicinal alchemy after my father died, in case she got hurt. I needed to keep her alive or I would be on my own. I would have no place to stay. And then… And then she was killed. No alchemy can bring back a human. I'm just glad I have a place to stay."

"You're right about how no alchemy can bring back a human. You should talk to Ed and Al about their mother," said Roy.

"Why?" asked Sam. "What happened to their mother?"

"That's a question for them to answer," said Roy.

With that Sam went to the nearest bookshelf and searched for some books on medicinal alchemy.

She found some and sat down at a table to read as Mustang supervised.

Three hours later, Sam was still looking at medicinal alchemy books.

"That's enough for today," said Roy. "You don't want to overdo it."

"I guess you're right," said Sam.

Roy helped Sam put her books away and they left together to return to Riza's house.

When they arrived at Riza they found her on her couch reading a book next to Ed and Al, who were apparently visiting. She looked up from her book upon their entrance. "How's the training going?" she asked.

"It's going well," said Sam.

"She's researching medicinal alchemy," said Roy.

"Medicinal alchemy?" inquired Al. "But I thought you already knew a lot about that. You healed Riza."

"Honestly," said Sam, "that was the first major injury I've healed. I've only been practicing medicinal alchemy since my father died."

"Really?" asked Riza.

Sam nodded.

"Wasn't it extremely risky to perform alchemy on Riza when you didn't know what you were doing?" asked Ed. He seemed angry. "You could have made her worse!"

"Brother-" started Al.

"Don't start with me Al," said Ed.

Al looked down.

"Don't you understand?" asked Sam. "I needed to do something! I couldn't just watch her suffer like that! She was the only person I had left!" Sam started crying and her brown-green eyes grew wet with tears.

Al walked over to Sam and gently put his arm around her. "It's ok Sam, my brother doesn't mean it. He just knows what it's like to lose someone. I think he's just angry that you took that risk."

"I had to do something Al," said Sam through her tears. "I just needed to. I couldn't lose her like I lost my mother."

Riza looked down.

"I understand," said Al. "I too lost my mother. We too took a risk. My brother and I attempted to bring her back to life and we paid the price. My brother lost an arm and a leg, and I lost my body. Now my brother has to deal with auto-mail and I'm stuck in this suit of armor."

"That's horrible," said Sam.

"Look," said Ed, "I'm sorry. I just wouldn't be able to stand seeing you lose Riza."

"It's ok Ed," said Sam, "I understand."

"I hate to see all of this caused by me," said Riza.

"Riza," said Roy, "you're very important to a lot of people around you and you don't realize it. A lot of people need you."

Sam looked Al and Ed. "I'm glad someone else knows what it's like."

"If you ever need someone to talk to, we're here," said Al. "You don't have to bottle it up, Sam. You're hurting."

Sam began to sob and Al pulled her in closer. "I wish I could be of more comfort to you. My armor must be very cold."

"No," said Sam. "It doesn't bother me because I know that beneath your armor you're there even if you don't have a body."

Sam continued to cry and hugged Al tighter.

"Let it out," said Al.

The others watched the two and began crying themselves. Everyone had been having a difficult few days. They all needed to let it out, because those who keep the hurt inside hurt more because the it builds up inside of them and slowly eats away at them.

"Al?" asked Sam.

"Yes Sam?"

"Thank you."