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"Hey"=Speaking

'Hey'= Thinking

"Hey"=Yelling

"Hey"=Flashback/ Speaking in a different language

Author's Note: Hello everybody sorry for the delay. I just wanted to let you all know that I intend to publish at least one chapter every month from now on, and trust the chapters will soon be getting longer. I hope that by doing this I can prevent the story line of the fic from getting all messed up due to rushed updates.

Thank you for electing to read this newest chapter and I hope you all enjoy.

Sincerely,

JackieRobinson

Chapter 1

Quote: "I find it to be imperative that, not only in the name of national but global security, the Ishvalan people are given a single unitary state in good faith. Lest they gather together their previously divided frustrations and elect to carve one out of the flesh of the empires around them"

-Unknown Foreign Advisor from the United Republic of Nations

There are many ways that many a foreigner has described the many miles that lay within the great expanse of Ishval. The land of 10,000 suns, the final gathering place of the spirits, the last Amestrian Bastion of superstition, the home of a people split amongst three countries, or Hell. All have been used, and most are valid, but one must always be careful to not focus so heavily on describing the land that they forget to speak of the Ishvalan people themselves. Their culture or their history which places them on the list of the most abused people in the long history of the world.

To better understand the history of this secluded people one must not simply go back to the Elemental Age, from the beginning of the 12th to the latter third of the 18th century, but past it to the Post-Classical Age from the 9th to 11th centuries. Arriving in the latter half of what many modern historians call the Classical Age, roughly around the 7th century, to see the end of what was the Ishvalan Golden Era. But, most importantly, to see the last time the Ishvalans were given the luxury of having their own independent country. Before they were first conquered and then divided by their neighbors.

It's only with the knowledge that one can first be impressed by the Ishvalan ability to preserve their culture for so long, but also understand their reluctance to accommodate foreigners. Even when doing so resulted in what many of their neighbors would call economic stagnation, but what the Ishvalans' called tradition. Understandinf how close they were to the homeland they'd been raised to cherish, and the independence that they had been taught from a young age to crave.

By stark contrast to the barren landscape of Ishaval the town of Resemble is beautiful, especially when the entirety of the town is enveloped by the beautiful gold rays of the afternoon sun. Creating a picturesque landscape that would prove to be any artist's dream to paint, any photographers dream background for a picture, and gave the city's native inhabitants a lovely atmosphere to raise their families in.

However, like so many things in life this picturesque beauty came at a price, that being that while the afternoon rays of the sun were breathtaking to witness they were by not always pleasant to endure. A fact that made the current experience of the small trio slowly walking down one of the many unpaved roads that crossed the town, incredibly undesirable. But also made their ability to endure the powerful combination of heat and sun all the more impressive.

"Dad, I'm tired" a faint voice stated causing the man in question, a young Ishvalan named Seneka, to look down to his left.

"I know Sokah, the farm we saw the poster for should only be alittle bit further, when we get there I promise that we will take a break" Seneka answered earning a nod from the girl before he returned her gaze to the earth in front of her. Allowing her father to let out a sigh before he took the opportunity to reshoulder his son, prompting him to stir slightly before tightening his grip on Seneka's neck and nuzzling his head into his back. All while his other son Kor continued to walk on his right silently.

The four of them had been walking for well over an hour now, or at least it felt like over an hour to Seneka, their now weary legs repeating the simple action of putting one foot in front of the other as they went. More and more blisters beginning to form on their feet with each agonizing step. But what else were they to do? They hadn't had enough money to either purchase a ticket for the train that came through the town's tiny station or to pay a local to take them into town.

Luckily Seneka had been able to spot a small poster that advertised work on one of the many farms in the area, but that had still left them with little choice but to travel the remaining distance by foot on the side of the road. With the few Resembol natives that they passed either ignoring their presence or actively trying to go around them, something that that Seneka could tell grabbed then attention of his daughter. Inspite of her best attempts to show otherwise.

It was obvious to almost anyone who glanced upon the quartet as they walked by that they were not entirely native to the town or the country side that surrounded it. Firstly, there was their clothing that was lighter in color, more extensive in design, and made from corser wool than anything produced or bought by the populace of Resembol. Their tough clothing obviously being designed to provide those who wore it protection from the sun in a drier, more hostile climate. Second was the way they spoke the language, for while it was the same as that of their fellow countrymen it had an accent to it that was most commonly attributed to the people of Ishval due to them not having abandoned their native tongue.

But the final reason sadly had to do with the way that the quartet looked, their dark brown skin and varying hair color. As Seneka sported the common white hair of his people and his children sported dark black hair, one of the few legacies of their mother. A physical feature that made them stand out from the other refugees that had boarded their train out of Ishval, even if the Amestrian guards sent to escort them hadn't acknowledged it.

"Dad, can I please have some water?" Sokah asked, causing Seneka to first release Kor's hand, attaching his right hand to his son's side, and using his left to loosen the small skin pouch from his side and hand it to his daughter. Who dutifully took it and shook it around to hear the sloshing of the precious liquid inside it before she uncorked and took a couple of gulps, before resealing it.

"Dad, do you want me hold onto this?"

"Sure, thank you Sokah" Seneka answered, barely able to hold the sigh that lay behind his lips as he watched Sokah place the pouch in her small pack. Luckily the small group was not forced to endure the either the heat or the displeasure of walking much longer, as within fifthen minutes the quartet found themselves slowly making their way up the small path that led to the house.

The house was simple looking in not only its design but also the color placed upon it. As while the house was indeed two stories it was rather thin in design, its notable height making up for its lack of width, with several small windows on both floors. The whole strucutre, including the tiny porche and steps that led up to the house, being covered with what looked to be a fairly new coat of white paint.

"Kotaro" Hakoda softly whispered as he gently shook his son, causing him to let out a tired yawn before raising his head.

"It's time to wake up"

"Okay papa" he quietly answered as he proceeded to release Seneka's neck before he gently lowered his son to the ground and took the opportunity to finally remove the two packs that were on his back. Adjusting his own pack and removing his son's before handing it to him, before he proceeded to place it on him own back and let out another yawn. Taking the opportunity to rub his eyes, while Kor took the opportunity to move hair out of his brother's eyes. As Seneka walked across the porch and proceeded to knock on the door.

"Coming" a voice called from the inside of the as the faint sound of footsteps could be heard crossing the wood floor of the house's from room, followed by the unlocking of the front door, the twisting of the door knob, and the opening of the door. Revealing a man with blond hair and eyes as well as light skin wearing a brown jacket, white shirt, and what looked to be olive green pants under a white apron.

"Hello sir, my name is Seneka and I couldn't help but notice a small notice for help that was posted on the news board down at the train station" Seneka began, pausing as he felt Kor move behind his right leg.

"I was wondering if you or your wife were still looking for help"

"Well yes we are but-" the man began before full catching sight, or possibly the smell, of Seneka's current state and opening the door further and stating.

"Please do come in, you must be close to dying of heat stroke in today's weather" as he opened the door and gestured for Seneka to come in.

"Oh please sir, there's no ne-"

"I insist, it would be very unkind to turn away a guest in need" the man stated, causing Seneka to first look down at his children before stepping into the house and hearing the door close behind him. An action that earned a tug on his pants, causing him to look down and see Kor gesturing faintly. Prompting him to kneel down to his son's level.

"What is it Kor?"

"Papa, this is a really beautiful house are you sure we should be here?" his son asked, glancing at his arms as he did so and earning a slightly saddened sigh from Seneka.

"If the nice man says so then yes, but I'm sure he would really appreciate it if you told him that" Seneka answered, earning a nod from Kor.

"So, what was it you were saying my good man?" the man asked, causing Seneka to return his attention not only back to possibly his future imployer, but also to the business at had.

"I was wondering if you and your wife were still looking for someone to help with the small end of labour here?" Seneka asked, earning a thoughtful look from the man.

"Yes we are but my wife..." he once again began, pausing briefly.

"What about your wife?"

"She told me she was primarily interested in a female labourer for the seasonal work" the man answered, causing a sinking feeling to arise in Seneka's gut.

"There's no need to worry that I'm weak, I grew up on small farm by an oasis so hard work is nothing new to me" Seneka stated in his calmest tone, not wanting the man to realize that he and his children truly had no other options. Being stranded in a strange, all be it not foreign, land with next to no money, no connections, and no way to make it to their ultimate destination left them with few option of how to make it out of Resembol on their own.

"Besides if the work is only seasonal the it won't be that much of a problem, I only need enough money for the train to Central City and neither you or your wife will ever see me again" Seneka added, hoping that his promise of only needing temporary employment might sweeten the deal. After all wouldn't a seasonal labourer be inconvenient after they'd finieshed doing their seasonal work?

"Well that is true, however-" the man began, only to be interupted by a faint tug on his left pant leg to find himself staring into a pair of borderline teary eyes.

"P-please sir my daddy's a good worker, honest, if he says he'll work hard and be out of your hair when he's done then he will I promise" Kotaro stated in a manner that caused the man to suddenly lean back.

"I'm sorry sir, you know how boys can be when they get-" Seneka began only to fall silent when the man raised his hand.

"My wife should be returning home tomorrow, you can make your case to her she gets here" he answerered before adding.

"Unfortunately we have no extra rooms, I can prepare a place for you in the storage house until then".

"T-thank you sir" Seneka stated before suddenly rising and bowing as deeply as he could. With the action being replicated by all three of his children while Kor added.

"You have a beautiful house" earning a smile on the man's face.

Sure enough the next day, in the late morning the lady of the house did indeed return, revealing herself to be Vera Hohenheim. Well known private alchemist, respected researcher, and one of the most vocal opponents to the abuse of alchemy by the Amestrian government. While also possibly being one of the few friends of the Ishvalan people that could be found in the Amestrian intellectual circles.

However, as Seneka sat at the tiny table of the couple he felt neither the benefit of the woman's intelligence nor the good will many people spoke about her possessing in agreat abundance. No all he felt as he sat on that tiny chair at the decently sized table was tense.

Not the good kind of tension that puts one on one's toes, but the bad kind that fills one's stomach with a sense of dead. Like when the odds are stacked against you or your at the total mercy of a person who you know nothing about and they can act as arbitrarily as they please. A feeling that Seneka had experienced many times in his homeland whilst living under the occupation of the Amestrian military, and needless to say it was a feeling he didn't like at all.

"So you'd just be staying here only for the season?" the woman asked, causing Seneka to realize that he was staring at the table and shift his gaze to the woman.

"Y-yes, of course" he answered, to which the woman nodded.

"And my husband has told you that the position was originally intended for a woman"

"Yes, but I am from a peasant family and am not afraid of hard work" Seneka answered as he looked at the unrelenting gaze of Vera and hurridly added.

"Besides I wouldn't stay long, just until the season's over and then my children and I can make our way to Central City to find more permanent lodgings and possibly employment". An answer that solicited a surprisingly hearty laugh from Vera and caused her husband to give his own friendly smile that caused Seneka to relax. After all it meant that his future chances of employment were no longer so bleak, even if it was only for a temporary period.

"I wouldn't dream of sending someone onto Central if they were alone, let alone guardian of three little children, no my friend we'll make sure to find you something to do in the winter months; consider yourself hired" and with that Vera stood and extended a hand towards Seneka. Prompting him to instinctually do like wise.

"Thanl you ma'am, thank you, I shan't dissapoint you" Seneka enthusiastically stated.

"That's good to hear, my dear Tristan informed me that you adnd your family were forced to live in the storage house so our first project will be to see if we can make it hospitable" Vera stated as she finished shaking Seneka's hand before adding.

"Now Tristan, let's have lunch" and with that the three adults in the room set not only themselves, but their whole nation on a new path.