In the early years of the decade, Amestris was undergoing a foreigner purge. "Immigration sanitation" it was colloquially called. It was a quick policy, resulting in the end of the act little over a year after it had been enacted. Most Amestrians if asked today or then could honestly say they didn't know such an act had passed, but it's not their fault. In truth, it was a military ploy to gain, even if it were a few, more soldiers. The tactic was to give an ultimatum, have at least one member of the family join their military or deport all of them.
Our protagonist was a product of this, a now Brigadier General she sat in her office looking back on those memories. On her eighteenth year of age, she left her family with the task of graduating with honor and serve Amestris. Ten years later this woman shuffled the papers on her desk into a manila folder while simultaneously looking at the picture frame that lay a few inches away from her right hand. A faint smile dawned her face while seeing her mother and younger siblings smiling in the falling snow. Once the papers were properly placed in the folder, the military woman reached for a pen for the journey, brushing past another picture frame. Her father and older siblings grinned triumphantly beneath the scorching sun. She then pushed herself from her chair and as this happened an Ishvalan bracelet fell further down her wrist due to its size. This protagonist adjusted it with care as she left her office.
-"Cati! Oh, Cati!" She heard as she walked down the front stairs of Central, smiling with an eyebrow raised "Cati" turned towards the voice.
-" Lt. Colonel Hughes, how might I be of service today?" She said wryly.
-" Catiii." The man said triumphantly while simultaneously showing a picture of his daughter. "Her pre-birthday pictures arrived yesterday evening! Isn't Elicia just to die for?"
She snatched them quickly. -" How much." She said with a deadpan expression.
-" For you Brigadier General Montes? Nothing." He matched her expression.
-" What a terrible drug dealer you are." Montes joked. They both then laughed and Montes handed back the pictures. -" So what time can I come and crash my goddaughter's party?" Hughes informs her that he hasn't thought that far ahead to which Montes corrects him and says that Gracia hasn't found the perfect time yet ending with more laughter.
They say their goodbyes as she entered a taxi.
-" Where to, Miss?"
-" First the Rose bakery and then the Tucker residence, please. The on one 2nd street facing 3rd, it's the big house." She explained.
Upon arriving she thanked the driver with a well-earned tip. With papers in one hand and the lemon pie in another, she marched into the Tucker residence preparing herself to deal with the owner of the house.
-" Alexander don't you dare!" She barked at the dog who, once had seen her, bolted toward her direction. "I brought lemon pie and I intend to try it this time." She voiced sternly.
-" Miss Catalina!" A young girl exclaimed as she dashed towards her. Catalina Montes' expression softened as she lowered herself to give her a hug.
-" Hey Nina, how's it going, sweetie?" She then eyed two people in the background, laying on the ground. Standing up she went to greet them with the dog and girl trailing behind. -"Might you be Nina's new playmates?"
-"N-Not exactly." The armored one said faintly with a chuckle while scratching its' helmet.
-"Well at least not today, Colonel Mustang sent us here to learn from Mr. Tucker." A short blonde answered while getting up.
-" That's great to hear! He's quite the genius. I'm Catalina Montes, a pleasure to meet you." Her words spoke sincerely as she motioned them to the house, with eagerness taste the dessert.
-"I'm Edward Elric and this is my younger brother Alphonse." Edward then paused. "So Brigadier General, why didn't you mention your rank?"
As they entered the house she stifled a chortle.
-"Well last I checked my birth certificate, my parents didn't include Brigadier General as one of my names." The words came out with the wriest manner, and her expression matched her words. The metal one laughed a little while the short one blew steam out while the military woman simply kicked her shoes off.
-"Take this to the kitchen for me, will you sweetie? I'll fetch your dad." Catalina then casually walked off only to trip once she heard Nina proclaim:
-"She's going to be my next mommy, did you know Big Brother Ed?"
-"Now, now Nina dear. I've told you before I'm only here to help your daddy's work not to marry him." Catalina expressed with pink cheeks. -" Besides, I've already told you what man I love, love."
-" Oh right! You love, love that man with-"
-"YES. HIM." Catalina was now holding Nina's mouth shut, she then winked as she whispered an inaudible yet important sentence that changed the little girl's expression to a triumphant one.
After the two unsuccessful attempts at knocking politely at Tucker's door, Catalina simply barged in.
-"Mr. Tucker, there's lemon pie in the kitchen and I'm not waiting another minute to try it." She proclaimed. To match words with action, the poor tired man was suddenly being dragged to his own kitchen without much choice.
-"It's always wonderful to see you, Brigadier General Montes." Was all the man was able to spit out.
Once in the kitchen, Montes was delighted to see cut slices laying on the table ready to be eaten. Without hesitation, she dug in.
-"What do I owe the pleasure of having you eat pie in my kitchen, Brigadier General?" Tucker asked cautiously.
While waving her hand she responded. "It's a waste of words to say my rank all the time, I've told you to just called me Catalina or something." She then took out the folder and handed it to him. -"Your exam will be in a couple of days, I thought I'd help you. That's all I've got I'm afraid, not sure if it is much help." She sighed.
-"So where are you from, you're not Amestrian." Edward blurted out, it seemed like the boy couldn't take it anymore. The woman he saw before his eyes had weird customs and different manners of speaking. She had a little trace of an accent, but the way she formulated sentences seemed as if she was translating her thoughts into Amestrian. Not only that, but her hair was incredibly thick and curly, though neatly put back in a ponytail and small bangs in the front you could tell this was exotic genes they were seeing. These were minor details, of course, it's just that when you'd put them all together it seemed as if you were reading a fantasy book with an exotic Heroine.
-"I am not Amestrian by birth if that's what you are insinuating. I'd say my hair and hazel eyes would be the first minor indication as well as my fair olive skin. Not to mention the funny way I speak and carry myself. Yes boy, I've heard all these things before." She answered simply while taking another bite. -"Fullmetal Alchemist, how has Colonel Mustang been treating you?"
-"Wait- you didn't even answer my question! I'm not gonna answer yours if you won't answer mine" The short one answered like a true brat.
-" Brother!" The metal one protested.
-"So how does Colonel Mustang treat your younger brother Alphonse?" She smiled cynically
-"W-well, although my brother isn't too fond of-
-"Al! Don't answer that!" The older brother exclaimed.
-"He isn't easy to get along with I agree, but I've never received a bad report." she chuckled -" But being his superior I am inclined to know how he treats all his subordinates, that includes you Fullmetal."
-"How do you know my code name if you didn't know me." The braided one asked still angry
-"She knows every alchemist, it's her duty to. Even though you haven't seen until today, she's been keeping tabs on you. That's how the Conservation Alchemist works, and that's why she's here." Tucker said with a sigh after finishing the papers. "Thank you, Ms Montes, there are a couple of things I can use with this." The man then stood up and cleaned the table.
-"Come, Nina, it's time for bed." He then turned to his guests with a tired smile. "Sorry to kick you out like this, but it's her bedtime."
The group said their goodbyes and Nina received many goodnight hugs. The Conservation Alchemist then offered the brother a ride, but the older still annoyed at her declined. Montes hailed a taxi, and while it parked she stretched and turned her eyes towards the stars.
"To think we still share the same stars, Solf. The only difference is that I can see them and you cannot, you ingrateful reprobate." Were her thoughts.
The driver took a glance at the military women as she sat down. A delicate, petite beauty she was. There was an odd air of maturity that accompanied her youth, he thought. Upon hearing the request to drive to Central, he nodded. During the trip he would steal glances at her, enjoying each one. His favorite features were her well developed, rounded lips and pensive, big eyes lying beneath her thick eyebrows. The best part of the ride was when she paid him, for her soft hands touched his for a moment. The driver wished her the best night and drove off thinking of her.
As she made her way up those steps she had left this afternoon the youth muttered words only a young corporal heard with confusion.
-" I beg you, Tucker, don't give me enough evidence to finally convict you for murder this exam."
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