Dear Ed and Al,
Only a few days gone and I'm already having to heal people! (And the sad thing is that I was the person who hurt them…) But nothing serious happened, so there's nothing to worry about! We got to the village a few days ago, and I'm finally starting to settle down. Well, at least I'm not being moved from place to place that much.
The people are so sweet here! They helped me with everything from the moment I got here, and they made me feel so welcomed! It's absolutely NOTHING like Central, at all. The villagers are more like one huge family, rather than individual people. They're all focused on teamwork and things like that, which is just a little different from the way the State Military works, as you know very well. It's such a…what's the word…a pleasant thing to see.
I'm starting to begin my training now, and it's…defiantly a work out. I'm learning these things called jutsus, which I guess you could relate to transmutations, but they involve a lot of other things…so they really aren't like alchemy at all, now that I think about it. You don't really break things down into its original components and then into something different with jutsus like we do with alchemy. Did that sentence even make sense? If it didn't, don't worry about it. I know we alchemists are people of science, but these jutsus are like magic. I can't figure it out yet, even though my sensei has explained it to me so many times. I know how to perform them, but I don't really see the logic of it…at least, not yet. (And yes, once again, I am determined to figure something out. You know me, once I set my mind to something, nothing can change it.) But I can go into that topic another time, if you want. I just meant to say that I'm learning some fascinating things right now.
And since I feel like fully updating you two right about now, I'll go on with this letter!
I've met some really great people here. You already know Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi, but they also have one more team member (who couldn't come to pick my up) names Sakura. She's really sweet and reminds me of Winry a little bit. Sakura, like Winry, is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, but get her angry and………she's a lot like Winry…that's all you need to know. And there are a bunch of other people who I don't really feel like writing about right now, so if you want to know about them, just tell me.
So how are things back in Central? Are you guys managing without me? Haha, just kidding, I know you can! Is Winry still with you? If she is, then will you tell her that my arm is holding up perfectly with the repairs she made? Thanks! So, are you being sent on any new missions? If so, tell me all about them! You know I wont show anyone these letters, so you can tell me anything. Oh, and since I know how much you love hearing about this EVERY DAY, how's Elysia? Sorry I had to leave you all alone to listen to Hughes like that. But hey, rather have that than not having him at all, right? And how's Mustang? Is he ripping your head off yet, Ed? I know I sound like a kiss-ass when I say this, (and I don't intend to be one) but send him my regards. You can even tell him that I don't want to sound like a kiss-ass if you want!
I know it's only been a few days, but I miss you so much already! I know that I wont be able to come home and see you for a while, and knowing that makes me miss you two so much! Keep in touch and tell me everything that's going on!
Dana
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Dana,
Hey, It's Ed! Thanks for the extremely long letter; it really brightened up my day! I'm serious! You basically figured out everything that's going on over here right about now. I swear, I think Mustang sees me as a new punching bag! (Oh, he says hi and that you don't sound like a kiss-ass at all. You're lucky; he was in a good mood today while I was reading your letter.) And the whole Hughes family is "wonderful!" as Maes says.
Everyone here says hello, and that they all miss you. I know it's only been a few days, but everyone has noticed your absence. You know, it's really different without you around. I knew it would be different, but it's a lot more different than I expected it to be like. And yes, Dana, Al and I are managing quite well without you. Although it isn't the same without you…at all. Winry is still here, and she says hey and that she's glad your automail is holding up, and that she's going to write you a letter soon. But as I was saying…
It really isn't the same here without you. Everything is kind of boring now, but that may also be because I haven't gotten any assignments for a while. We're still looking for the stone, as you know, but there's no new news with that one. Just the same old shit.
I'm glad you're settling in well. Remember how hard it was for us? It's funny, now that I think about it, how hard it was for us to settle into the house. But I'm glad you don't have to deal with that again. I'm very proud of you for already hurting people…that's my Dana! (Says proudly!) And I'm sure you already have a ton of friends. I know that's just the way you are! Tell me about them in your letter, if you want.
So tell me about thus magic that you were starting to talk about. It sounds really interesting, especially because you called it "magic". What do these "jutsus" actually do? And how do you do them? I'm seriously interested, so tell me anything that you think would catch my attention…and also the stuff that you don't think would catch me, because you know that I find everything interesting after a while.
Well, I'm afraid I have to finish up now. Mustang's going to rip my head off otherwise, as I'm sure you know very well! Al says hi and that he would write a letter to you if he could (but you know that he cant) and also that he misses you too. In fact, we all miss you! Reply soon!
Yours always,
Edward Elric
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Ed,
I'm so glad my letter brightened up your day! Yours did for me too! I feel like I'm training under Izumi all over again…except, my teacher is male and not as strict. But remember how tough she was on us, even though we didn't train together? You should go see her since you two aren't doing anything. I'm sure she would love it…even if you two didn't finish your training.
I've become friendly with most of the people our age, since their population is so small. They're wonderful people, and such personalities! I swear. You could never be bored if you're around these people. There's this one girl named Ino, who has such a fresh personality that you cant help but laugh with her! And then there's Hinata (who has these amazing eyes, by the way. It looks like she doesn't have pupils, and her iris' are almost white! She told me that it's unheard of to have those eyes and not be from her clan…it's really cool!) who is the quietest thing I have ever met! There are so many different kinds of people here, it's really amazing.
My training is going along well. I'm a very fast learner (as you know) so I'm catching up with the rest of the people our age. But, as you can imagine, I'm nowhere near as advanced in the "art of the ninja" (as they call it) as everyone else is. There are there are some similarities in comparison to the State. Everyone here seems to have their specialty. (Like you are the Full Metal Alchemist, I'm the Memory Alchemist, Mustang's the Flame Alchemist, so on) For example, Sasuke (you met him…he's the one with the black hair) has this eye technique called the Sharingan, which helps him manipulate people through illusions called "genjutsu". The Sharingan eye also helps him predict people's movements and a lot of other really intense stuff. (The Sharingan is another one of those traits that are passed down in a family.) My other friend, Lee, is extremely excelled in "taijutsu". (Taijutsu is equivalent to us sparring, but pumped up a little.) I could just go on and on about what people in this town can excel in, but I won't because I know you don't really care that much. But, like I said before, I'm nowhere near as advanced as everyone else. I haven't really excelled in anything…at lease, not yet. And since you're so interested in this stuff, I'll go on.
I'm not 100 knowledgeable about this stuff, but I'll tell you what I know. So there's this thing called Charka. Chakra is basically body energy that's collected from cells throughout the body. But it's also has to do with mental power…somehow. (I don't really know that much about the mental power part, but I'll talk to my teacher about it soon.) Then, by doing certain hand movements, the chakra is activated and you can create this thing called a jutsu. There's science behind it all, but its really fascinating stuff. You can do so much with Chakra, and the fact that I know alchemy too makes me able to understand this stuff even more!
So there's your brief summary of what I'm learning. If you have any questions, or if you didn't understand something, please tell me in your reply letter.
I'll be training with a new teacher soon. Actually, I'll be training with him as soon as I pass my genin exam. (That's the equivalence of graduating from school. One still learns, but earns more responsibilities and gets paid.) So by the time this letter gets to you and your reply comes back, I'll probably know a bunch of new techniques. The training here has been tough on my body, but it's nothing to worry about. If Whinry is still with you guys, tell her that I say hello and that my arm is still holding up well, but that I'm considering, ONLY CONSIDERING, ordering another arm just like this one. You know, just incase this one breaks and I can't reach Winry at the time. But tell her to wait on the order until I figure out what's going on. But as I was saying…
The chakra that I told you about put an enormous strain on my body when I started training with it. It's most likely because I'm missing a lot of cells with the automail arm, but I guess I'm just going to have to deal! And now I don't feel weak or strained anymore, so I guess that means that my body has adjusted to the use of my chakra.
But enough about me, tell me about you and everything that's been going on by you? Tell Al I say hello and that I say don't worry about writing me a letter. And how's…everyone! I feel so loved that people miss me! I miss everyone too, and you can tell them that if you want. But just try not to get too beaten up by Mustang!
All right, well I'm afraid I have to wrap up this letter. It's getting really late, my exam is coming up, and I have training tomorrow. I miss you so much and I wish I could see you right now.
Yours truly,
Dana West
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Dana,
I'm so sorry I haven't been able to write for a while. Mustang sent Al and me on a mission to Rice Country the day after I sent you my last reply, so we just got back. Our mission this time was to get some information about this town that was oppressing its villagers, and to help them out. Exciting, right? We ran into some troublemakers, but nothing serious happened. I met this man who knew some information about the stone, but all he would tell me is to not make it, and he kept on glancing at Al for some reason. Maybe it's the armor. People don't seem to feel comfortable around a giant suit of armor, even though Al is so sweet. It's funny actually. Even that far away from Central people know who we (Al and I) are. That reminds me, have you fully introduced yourself to anyone in that town of yours yet? What is the town called again? I know it had to do with leaves. You never actually told me what the village is called.
So by the time you get this letter, you'll probably be so skilled that you would be able to take on five Mustangs, right? This charka really is interesting; from what you explained of it…you can elaborate on these jutsus if you want. Oh, and congratulations on becoming a genin! (I'm sure it was tough for some people, but it was probably really easy for you!) So, how's your new teacher treating you? Are you earning a lot of money? Mustang says that he's counting your time in the village as a mission, so you're getting paid for this whole time. And he also said that you don't need to do a write up of this experience when you come back, and to just enjoy your time there (I am SO jealous of you!) I think Mustang is becoming bipolar lately. Or PMSing…that's always a good excuse for him. But most of us think he got laid or something in that genre. You know how Mustang is after he "takes a night off". You're probably rolling your eyes, sighing, and nodding your head in agreement right now. Am I right? He'll probably get back to his usual self in a few days, knowing him. But as I was saying before Mustang told me to write all of that (Well, most of it anyway…)
I'm sure you're being kept busy with everything that's been going on around where you are. Winry left a few days ago, while Al and I were on the mission, but I'll send her the message. And everyone at headquarters sends their regards again. As always, tell me anything new that you want to tell me about. There's really not much going on around here. There's talk of the Fuhrer going to some graduation-ball-thingy, and that all the majors who work under Mustang are going to have to go, so I guess that means that I'm going to have to go as well! Joy for me, right? Well, I'm so sorry to cut this short, but Mustang wants me at headquarters bright and early tomorrow, and it's getting really late. We all miss you, and reply soon!
Yours always,
Edward Elric
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Ed,
I'm glad you finally responded! I was starting to worry that something happened! But I'm glad you were only on a mission. (Which sounded SO exciting! I'm sure you had a BLAST!) And can you tell Mustang that I say thanks? I'm sorry you have to deal with him at such a time as this. And yes, I defiantly know how it is when he's like that. I feel for you. If it makes you feel any better, my teacher reads these little porn books whenever he can, even when he's around my team! (I'm in the same team as Sasuke and Naruto. Kakashi is our teacher, and Sakura is the other girl in the group. Oh, and the town name is Konoha, or the Village of the Hidden Leaf…but everyone calls it Konoha.) So I hope that makes you feel any better. Sakura and I plan to bury the books one day and make sure he doesn't find them, but we both know that we wont ever put that plan in action.
Just as I promised, I've learned quite a few new techniques now. One skill that you might like is that I can walk up trees and on water without my hands. Cool, right? I love doing it. It's not much a technique as much as it is a skill, though. Kakashi wants us to know the basics that we didn't learn in the academy. (I didn't attend the academy like everyone else did. I was taught everything by one of the teachers from the academy. So I was taught everything that everyone else learned, but I learned it all in about two weeks, while everyone else learned it all in five years…wow. That's weird. I just realized how fast I learned that stuff! And it's a lot of stuff too! That's interesting…) So Kakashi just finished teaching us all that stuff. Now we're going to start learning techniques. It really took me longer than it should've on order to maintain my chakra in order to walk on water. But I learned, and that's all that matters. Oh! Another really fun skill that I learned was how to transform my body in order to look like someone else. How intense is that! I'll show you sometime.
So tell me about this ball…thing. It sounds interesting. Is it for a mission? If so, who's going to be there? Is it just some huge party? What's the occasion? Tell me everything you know about it. You know what's funny? Well, not funny, but interesting. I'm going to be taking the Chunnin exams soon, and the people who pass participate in this party…thing. It's kind of like a graduation party. But my teachers and peers who have already passed the exams attend it every time there's an exam, so it's not really a graduation party. And I believe it's coming up soon! So I hope I'm skilled enough to pass. And I also hope you'll be cheering me on!
I'm actually nervous about this exam. Everyone says it's extremely hard and that people actually die in this exam, but of course I wont, so you don't have to worry about that…what am I thinking! I don't have anything to worry about! We've dealt with maniacs on our missions before! I don't need to worry about this at all! And with alchemy like mine, I have no reason to worry! (Remember when we took the test in order to get into the military? You said the same thing!) Yeah, sorry about that…I guess I am a little nervous about the exam. I always am when I'm being tested for stuff.
And now I just realized that I'm babbling on and on and you're probably thinking, "Dana, what the hell have they been doing to you? When is this letter going to end already?" So, I'm sorry about that. It's late. And I guess I don't have all my thoughts together after a long day. In fact, I think I'm going to sleep now. Kakashi-sensei trains us really hard all day, so we have hardly any more energy at night. It's funny…if you knew Kakashi-sensei, you'd think that all he wants to do is sit under a tree and read his little porn books, but he's pounding work on us really hard lately. And the fact that he's training me even more (in order to help me catch up to everyone else) on top of what he teaches the group just…I'm going to shut up now. Please reply soon with any news you want to tell me about.
Yours always,
Dana West
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Dana,
First off, don't apologize for your babbling, it's cute! And it brightens up my day to hear from you. I know that just sounded really awkward, but it's true! (Wow. It really sounds like I'm messed up right now. I hope Mustang isn't rubbing his bipolar attitude off on me. I think I should go on a really REALLY long mission so that I can visit you so I can both 1) see you and 2) regain my sanity. Al should come too! Yeah, I think I'll do that…)
I haven't learned too much about that whole party thing, but I do know that it's around our birthdays, which sucks because I'd rather not work on my birthday. But I guess I'm just going to have to suck it up. I don't have any way out of it…unless I get hospitalized! Then I wouldn't be allowed to go! Just kidding, you know I would never do that! I think I'll ask Mustang about it tomorrow, because he hasn't really told us all about any of it. I don't even know if I'm supposed to wear my uniform (which I have yet to get tailored…not good news. Besides, I hate that thing!) or what I usually wear. Like I said, I have absolutely no idea about most of this whole thing.
Oh, and don't worry about your Chunnin exams, Dana. I know it'll be easy for you. And if it makes you feel any better, everyone in Central that knows you is rooting for you. This is really random, but you know what would be interesting? If the Furor changes your name from the Memory Alchemist to the Ninja Alchemist…sounds good, right? Dana West; the Ninja Alchemist. I like it, what do you think?
Everyone around here is really tense about something. I have yet to find out what exactly, but I think the state alchemist exams are coming up soon, and you know how intense those are. And lucky for you, you don't have to worry about that whole review-trial-thingy…remember last time when I went up against Mustang in a fight in order to stay in the military? So you should consider yourself lucky! I mean, the Chunnin exams are tests that you can take again and again, right? Ha, now I'm the one babbling! You already know what I'm talking about, so why do I have to go into such detail? Oh well, I already wrote it, so I'm not going to cross it all out. You're probably thinking about what an idiot I am right now, and I will tell you once again that I strongly believe that Mustang is getting to me…
So I know this letter is short, but there really isn't much going on around here. Winry says hey and so does Al and everyone else. Hughes, Mustang, Hawkeye and that whole group say hi as well, and that they miss you. I miss you and I cant wait to see you when I finally can!
Yours truly,
Edward Elric
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Ed,
Sigh, I'm so sorry I haven't been able to reply sooner, but it seems as though Kakashi is training me every second of the day. To tell you the truth, I think I may have rather Izumi than Kakashi. They would enjoy each other's company. They're both strict. But it's all okay, because I don't really mind training now. It's more like exercise now. It's something I enjoy. But one thing that I defiantly did not expect from my training was the problem that I now face: I need to buy myself a new wardrobe, because my clothing is coming apart from the training that I've been doing.
I've learned so many new techniques now, and they're all really intense. Sasuke taught me how to spit fire balls at people, which apparently I wouldn't be taught if anyone else was teaching me it, because it's a technique that only his clan uses. So I guess that makes me special? It's a really fun technique, and it really helps me out with stuff. But it was a pain in the ass to learn. There's a different kind of learning system here in Konoha. It's very new to me, because I tend to rely on my mind a little more than my body. (And yes, Ed, the Ninja Alchemist would be a really awesome name.) In a way it's like what Izumi always said. Remember how teacher always said "to train the mind to it's potential, you've got to train the body"? Well, in Konoha, that plays a pretty big role, but I've trained the body more than I've trained the mind. I've worked my body to the point where I'm surprised that I'm able to manage my way back to my apartment, but I haven't trained my mind in the same way. It's interesting. Do I make any sense at all right now? I hope I am.
As the date for the Chunnin exams approach, I find myself more and more ready for them. I've been getting myself psyched and now I feel confident with every step I take. But the fact that you told me that everyone in Central is rooting for me just boosts me up even more. But don't worry, Ed, its not getting to my head. I know that I'm not the best ninja, and I know that there will always be a ninja who is better than me, but I'll try my best to pass the exam.
And I'm also sorry, but I've got to run too. Kakashi is waiting for my afternoon training, and then I have some meeting to attend for the Hokage. I'm really looking forward to getting paid for this one! Other than what I've told you now, there isn't really that much going on. I miss you and I cant wait to see you as soon as we can! Tell everyone I say hello!
Love always,
Dana West
PS: I forgot to mention that the exams are around our birthdays, more around yours though. Does it really matter though? I mean, we're a day apart! So anyway, while you're at your party (which I do want to know more about) think of me taking my exam!
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Rebel Angels: I'm so sorry I haven't written in a while, so that's why I didn't get a chance to post this up sooner. PLEASE review and tell me what you thought of this chapter, because I really have NO IDEA how people will like it! Thanks for reading!
